Jessica Bordini, a Notre Dame alum, is looking forward to coming back for the Bye Bye Birdie Alumni Night production on January 18.

Bordini was part of the chorus and had a speaking part during the telephone-hour sequence when she participated in Bye, Bye, Birdie.

“I learned teamwork, dedication, drive, discipline and the ability to handle several projects at once,” said Bordini.

She participated in Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me Kate, and Bye, Bye, Birdie, which will be performed here January 17-19.

“My favorite memories were the inside jokes we developed with each other, our close friendships, meeting upper-class students, the choreography, the makeup and dressing room time and, of course, meeting up with our family and friends after the show,” said Bordini.

She joined the musical in high school because of her love for music and theater. It was an opportunity to meet new people and form new relationships. It was also a way of metering herself into reaching all her goals.

Her love for theater continued In college. Bordini participated in Humorology, a musical theater production, at UW-Madison. All proceeds from Humorology were donated to charity. She played Velma from Scooby-Doo and was awarded best comedic performance.

English teacher Carolyn Brown remembers Bordini for all her Student Government leadership.

“Jessica was the first student I met when I got hired at NDA.  She was painting letters in the parking lot for the quote on the auditorium wall.  Our hardworking president of Student Government, she was a dynamic leader who helped me get through my first year as Student Government adviser.”

Bordini is now a bilingual Spanish reading specialist in Waukesha. She has a masters degree in Education Administration, a teaching license for English Language Learners and a Reading Specialist license.

She is married to her high school sweetheart, Brett Bordini, whom she met in her high school musical Kiss Me, Kate. They have three daughters: Ellory (9), Violet (4) and Maise (2).

“I’ve always tried to inspire my children to enjoy the arts, and my oldest daughter was chosen to perform in the Milwaukee Ballet’s version of the Nutcracker last year and will be trying out for A Midsummer Night’s Dream this year,” said Bordini.

Bordini looks forward to watching her kids’ dreams unfold. She hopes within the next ten years to be an administrator in an elementary school and to take amazing trips with her children and husband.

Even though Bordini maintains a busy schedule, she continues to keep in contact with other alumni that participated in Bye, Bye, Birdie.