Saint Mary's Newsroom

Saint Mary’s had planned one of its largest reunions for this June, bringing together alumni classes from the past two years rolled into one. And it hoped to celebrate the class of 2020 the same weekend.

Under guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Saint Mary’s has switched the in-person gathering to a full schedule of virtual events June 26-27. For more information, go to connect.smumn.edu/reunion2021.

The following individuals will be honored virtually with the 2021 Alumni Awards on Saturday, June 26, at 6 p.m. at connect.smumn.edu/reunion2021:

Mike Cannon

ALUMNI APPRECIATION AWARD

Mike Cannon ’73 began supporting Saint Mary’s as a student. He was a member of Alpha Delta Gamma, and served as president of the fraternity for one year. He also was an RA, and even coached women’s football! Since graduating, he has been a very active alumnus. He’s attended more than 20 reunions, has helped to plan or host numerous Saint Mary’s golf tournaments, and he’s served on the First Generation Initiative (FGI) Board as well as two Celebration of Excellence planning committees. He’s hosted a prospective student and parent information session and two FGI fundraisers. He’s constantly advocating for Saint Mary’s. A love for Saint Mary’s runs in the Cannon family, as Mike followed in the footsteps of two Saint Mary’s alumni siblings, Jack ’64 and Tom ’69. After graduation, he spent his career in sales. And he’s just completed 10 years as alderman of Rolling Meadows. He and his wife, Sally (Weldon) ’74, have three adult children.

Susan Caulfield

LASALLIAN SERVICE AWARD

Susan Caulfield ’80, Ed.D., served at two Catholic high schools in the Twin Cities, both rooted in their Lasallian heritage. For 11 years, she was a religion teacher and later director of Campus Ministry at Totino-Grace High School. During this time, she earned her master’s degree in non-public administration and her doctorate in education leadership, specifically researching what community meant in a Catholic high school. With licensure in hand, Caulfield joined the staff at Hill-Murray School as principal and later as president. Committed to educating the whole student, she worked to provide her staff the resources they needed to ensure that graduates left Hill-Murray confident, capable, and resilient. For 24 years, she proudly assured graduates, “You are not only ready for the rigors of college, you are ready to change the world in wonderful ways because of your membership in this community.” She also serves on the Simon Says Give Board of Directors, Minnesota State Council for NCA-CASI, and NCA Board of Trustees. For her dedicated work, she received the MN AdvancED Excellence in Education Award and the Archdiocesan Excellence in Catechesis Leadership Award. Thoroughly enjoying retirement, she now spends more time with her husband, Bruce, and their 12 grandchildren.

Jennifer (Lawrence) Nelson

LASALLIAN SERVICE AWARD

Jennifer (Lawrence) Nelson ’04 has had a passion for service her entire life. When asked her New Year’s resolution at age 11, she responded, “World peace.” As a member of her high school’s campus ministry team, she was the first to letter in service. At Saint Mary’s, she co-lead Outreach, a team that led confirmation retreats throughout the diocese, and participated in Habitat and S.O.U.L. mission trips. After serving two years in the Peace Corps in Kyrgyzstan, Nelson fell into the profession of volunteer engagement and never looked back. As the manager of Volunteer Services at Maple Grove Hospital, she has overseen the growth of the department from 90 to 500 volunteers since 2011. Under her leadership, the hospital was the first in the nation to achieve Service Enterprise status from Points of Light. Nelson continues to actively volunteer in her church and community with her husband Travis ’05 and son Bekett.

Thomas Clasen

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD

Thomas Clasen ’78, Ph.D., an epidemiologist, is professor of environmental health and interim chair of the Department of Environmental Health at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, where he holds the Rose Salamone Gangarosa Chair in Sanitation and Safe Water. Clasen has led more than $50 million in research in household- and community-level environmental health interventions in low-income countries and has published more than 185 peer-reviewed papers. His research includes randomized controlled field trials to assess the health impact of water, sanitation, and household air pollution interventions; systematic reviews of water quality and sanitation interventions to prevent diarrhoeal disease and enteric infection; assessments of environmental interventions in emergency and outbreak response; and cost and cost-effectiveness analyses of interventions. His current research includes a multi-country trial to assess the health impact of LPG stoves; a large-scale trial of a program to provide water filters and improved cook stoves to lower income populations in Rwanda; a trial to assess the impact of interventions to improve child feces management in India; and an evaluation of a slum redevelopment intervention in Fiji and Indonesia. Clasen was the chief scientific adviser to the World Health Organization in developing the first set of Guidelines for Sanitation and Health. He holds an MSc (Control of Infectious Diseases) and Ph.D. from the University of London; he also holds a J.D. (Law) from Georgetown University. Prior to transitioning to public health, Clasen practiced international corporate law for 20 years.

The following academic honors were given to Saint Mary’s University undergraduate students in spring 2021. Business awards were announced earlier.

Biology

Biology Academic Achievement Award: Graham Lorsung, Cole Van Houten, Mackenzie Waters

This award is presented in recognition of outstanding academic achievement by majors in the biology department. These students have earned both a cumulative GPA and a major GPA of 3.8 or greater.

Beta Beta Beta inductees: (December 2020 inductees) Lexi Albert, Mariah Bell, Erica Camarato, Alyssa Harem, Mackenzie Waters, Grace Wilson; (spring 2021 inductees) Kayla Boettcher, Amber Chow, McKenna Gaalswyk, AnnMarie Jacobson, Abigail Johnson, Marissa Kleckler, Erin Lime, Graham Lorsung, Andrew Tepp, Cole VanHouten

The purpose of Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society is to function as an honor and professional society for students of the biological sciences. Its activities are designed to stimulate interest, scholarly attainment, investigation in the biological sciences, and to promote the dissemination of information and new interpretations of information among students of the life sciences. For membership, students need to be a biological sciences major, complete at least three courses in biological science, of which at least one is not an introductory course, with an average grade of B in the biology major.

Chemistry

American Institute of Chemist’s Student Award in Chemistry: Delaney Wolf

Each year, the American Institute of Chemists (AIC) sponsors student awards to outstanding seniors majoring in chemistry or biochemistry. Such awards are given in recognition of a demonstrated record of ability, leadership, and professional promise. The AIC was founded in 1923 to foster the advancement of the chemical profession in the United States; to promote and protect the public welfare; to establish and maintain standards of practice for the chemical professions; and to promote the professional experience through certification as to encourage competent and efficient service. These concepts represent the commitment that the chemical scientist undertakes in order to assure the best possible use of science and technology for the good of the community, the nation, and the world at large.

American Chemical Society Outstanding Senior Award: McKenna Gaalswyk

Each year, the LaCrosse-Winona local section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) presents awards to the outstanding chemistry majors who intend to continue their study of chemistry or work in a chemical field. The ACS is a nonprofit, independent membership organization chartered by Congress in 1876, representing professionals at all degree levels and in all fields of chemistry and sciences that involve chemistry. The ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and one of the world’s leading sources of authoritative scientific information. It is the premiere professional home of chemists and chemical engineers around the globe.

Education

Kappa Delta Pi members: (juniors) Bridgette Hegarty, Marian Hollenbeck, Maddelyn Long, Luke Pauly, Tzolquin Pinedo, Maya Reichenbacher, Daniela Zavala; (seniors) Isaac Dotzler, Bridget Finley, Sarah Fowler, Bailey Frattalone, Ivy Hunt, Brianna Jacobson, Emilia Jury, Claire King, Claire Klassen, Claire Patterson, Hallie Schmeling, Daniells Stevens, Abby Winter

Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society for education, was established to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. For membership, students need at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA for all coursework completed and must have 12 credits of education coursework completed.

English

Sigma Tau Delta members: Kendall Archer, Katie Keller, Elliott Rysavy, Kris Shepard

Sigma Tau Delta is the international English honor society, established to confer distinction for high achievement in English language, literature, and writing. To be considered for membership, English majors or minors must have completed at least three semesters of college work, including three English courses beyond the introductory level; have earned a 3.0 overall GPA; and rank in the top third of their class.

Honors program

Outstanding Honors Program Senior Award: Clare Bath

2021 Lasallian Honors Program graduates: Kendall Archer, Clare Bath, Isabel Bettag, Abbey Callahan, Sam Chaffee, Elizabeth Duellman, David French, McKenna Gaalswyk, Christina Haile, Alica Kaari, Rachel Kedl, Katelyn Keller, Julia Kirk, Isaiah Lippert, Dom Lonette, Jordan Malikowski, Jessica Patton, Ellitot Rysavy, Ben Schoonmaker, Brooke Shefchik, Kris Shepard, Ted Sweet, Linnaea Wallis, Mackenzie Waters, Grace Wilson, Delaney Wolf

Students with outstanding academic achievements are invited to participate in the Lasallian Honors Program, an alternative general education program at Saint Mary’s. As a cohort, Honors students complete eight shared inquiry seminars over the course of their four years at Saint Mary’s and participate in intensive service learning projects in their sophomore and senior years.

Math, Computer Science, and Physics

Brother Jerome Rademacher Award: Sawyer Rosner

This award is given in honor of Brother Jerome who served the Saint Mary’s community from 1965 until his retirement in 2008. The recipient is an outstanding physics major who exemplifies Brother Jerome’s dedication to the values of intellectual vigor, careful scholarship, service to the community, and who gives evidence of commitment to the profession of physics. The awardee must have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher, participate in physics research, and intend to pursue physics as a profession.

Brother Leo Northam Award: Colleen Lois

This award is given to senior mathematics or mathematics education majors who have excelled in their major based upon coursework, senior project, presentations, and dedication toward mathematical development.

Music

Brother Laurence Walther Founder’s Award: Julia Kirk

This award is given in honor of Brother Laurence Walther who served for many years in the music department at Saint Mary’s. The recipient is the senior with the highest GPA in music, music education, music performance, or music industry.

Performance Award: Julia Kirk

The recipient of the Performance Award is a music student who has consistently performed at a high level of musicianship, contributed to the growth and development of ensemble, and displayed leadership qualities and dedication to the art of musical performance.

Philosophy

Saint Thomas Aquinas Award for Excellence: Benjamin Schoonmaker

The Aquinas prize is awarded each spring to a senior philosophy major who exemplifies the following qualities: breadth of knowledge in the history of philosophy; outstanding written and oral communication skills; intellectual curiosity; marked growth in virtues of character; and modeling of the philosophical life, both in and out of the classroom.

Father Andrew Fabian Scholarship: Paul Rupert

The recipient is an excellent junior or senior philosophy major, with or without financial need, to be selected by Father Fabian in consultation with the members of the philosophy department.

Psychology

Larry Luttmers Award: Samantha Chaffee

The Larry Luttmers Award acknowledges the student who has achieved excellence in the research process, involving engagement in empirical literature, the development of experimental design and organization, and the pursuit of statistical analyses. This student demonstrates a passion for the development of research questions which facilitate opportunities for hypothesis testing and data interpretation. With this superior inquisitiveness, this student embodies the Lasallian spirit in the pursuit of lifelong learning. By continuing to question, test, and interpret, this student illustrates an awakened, nurtured, and empowered learner.

Marilyn Frost Award: Denise Quizhpi, Justine Schultz

The Marilyn Frost award recognizes the student who has consistently demonstrated an exemplary commitment to a very deep level of understanding in psychology, to outstanding application of the principles of psychology, and a strong demonstration of our Lasallian tradition.

Psychology’s Dedicated Lasallian Award: Sarah Hardy

This student has consistently worked toward excellence in academics, service, scholarship, and for the greater good of our Lasallian community. We recognize the stellar performance of this student as a leader, a scholar, a team member, a community member involved in many areas of campus life, and a person who consistently shines while lifting others to shine as well.

Psychology Department Distinction Award: Samantha Chaffee, Sarah Hardy, Danielle Harris, Tara Nikolich, Jon Orvarsson, Brandi Remold, Justine Schultz

Distinction is an honor that can be achieved by students majoring in psychology who have demonstrated exceptionally high quality work leading up to and including a major capstone paper, presentation, and portfolio. Students must earn at least a 3.7 GPA in the major and a 3.3 GPA across the college. Students must also submit an outstanding internship integration or thesis paper and public presentation.

Theatre and Dance

Alpha Psi Omega 2021 inductees: Jen Honsa, senior; Hanna Hagberg, senior; Mackenzie Jensen, junior; Bre Kenney, junior; Caitlin Ledin, junior; Mackenzie Moller, junior; Katie Kitchen, sophomore; Gabbie Johnson, sophomore; Emma Paquette, sophomore; Sam Wesch, sophomore

Class of 2021 graduating seniors: Anna Dale, Hanna Hagberg, Jen Honsa, John Huevos, Ryan Krewer, Arielle Miagkov, Amanda Pohlman, Marlee Ressa, Billy Scannell, Nick Winkler

Established in 1925, Alpha Psi Omega (APO) is one of the oldest fraternities. It requires its cast members to have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and a departmental major GPA of 3.5 or higher. Casting in APO also requires excellence, diversity, and commitment within departmental productions. Based on a point system, cast members must accrue a total of eight points from at least two different areas of production. Points are awarded to individuals who have completed their duties or roles in a manner that is beyond reproach.

Grove Bree Holman Award: Maggie Heuer

The Grove Bree Holman Award is an award given in honor of Grove Holman who passed away shortly after graduating from Saint Mary’s. This award, provided by his family, is presented to a non-theatre major who has been actively involved in a musical theatre production and who best demonstrates the performance level and personal qualities which made Grove Holman the admired and loved performer that he was.

Millie Harrison Spirit Award: Arielle Miagkov

The Millie Harrison Spirit Award is an award given in honor of Millicent “Millie” Harrison, a theatre major at Saint Mary’s, who passed away suddenly in her freshman year 2011. Millie was an extraordinary young woman who made an immediate impression on the Saint Mary’s community through her generosity, enthusiasm, dedication, love of life, and genuinely warm approach to each person she met. Recipients of this award demonstrate the following attributes to faculty, staff, and students.

• Graduating theatre major
• Demonstrates a sense of ensemble and collaboration, strong ethics and values, and the spirit of humility
• Is a positive ambassador for the Department of Theatre and Dance
• Is a creative individual and thinks outside the box
• Is contagiously enthusiastic

The Michael G. Flanagan Ghost Light Award: William Scannell

The Michael G. Flanagan Ghost Light Award was established in 2005 when Dr. Michael Flanagan retired as professor of theatre arts. The ghost light is the light in the theatre which burns anytime the theatre is unoccupied. Its light serves anyone who enters the theatre. It gives light, but never has light cast upon it. The recipient of the Ghost Light Award is a theatre major who has worked hard and effectively, though without significant recognition. The recipient understands the importance of all aspects of theatre production, and has sought out opportunities to understand theory and perfect practice in a significant variety of assigned tasks.

Gerald Sullivan Award – Outstanding Senior Theatre Major: Anna Dale, Amanda Pohlman

Gerald (Gerry) E. Sullivan was the director of the theatre at Saint Mary’s College from 1959 to 1967. If it were not for him, there would not be a theatre department today. His productions for theatre Saint Mary’s clearly established the fact that great theatre could be done in the third floor theatre of Saint Mary’s Hall (currently the Common Room). This room provided Gerry with the opportunity to mount many of the spectacular productions which were his trademark, including a functional showboat which moved on and off stage. Those who create theatre in state of the art spaces, such as our Page Theatre, must always remember from where we have come. This award, currently hanging in the Common Room, warmly recalls the continuing contributions of Gerry by honoring those who contribute so much today. The recipient of the Outstanding Senior Theatre Major is someone who has achieved both academic and artistic excellence and has shown leadership abilities and dedication to the Department of Theatre and Dance and to our community.

National Honor Society for Dance Arts members: Sarah Hannan, Jennifer Honsa, Ryan Krewer, Ana Paula, Saldana Cisneros

Saint Mary’s University biology and biochemistry students presented at the Beta Beta Beta National Biology Honor Society District Meeting, held in conjunction with the Minnesota Academy of Science’s Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 24. During the virtual meeting, students from 14 regional colleges and universities presented their original STEM research. Cole Van Houten won the honors of second place for the Tribeta Frank G. Brooks oral presentation. Van Houten (biology), MacKenzie Waters (biochemistry) and Delaney Wolf (biochemistry) won the MAS Judges’ Choice Awards for best presentations.

Brother Robert Smith, FSC, Ph.D., senior vice president for university initiatives and special advisor to the president, wrote a piece that was featured in the spring 2021 issue of De La Salle Today, the magazine of the Lasallian Region of North America. His piece focused on the “Declaration on the Lasallian Educational Mission: Challenges, Convictions and Hopes” and is included as part of the new Lasallian Essentials section where Lasallian documents will be explored. His writings offer an understanding of the document and suggestions on how to engage with it.

From the article:

“The ‘Declaration on the Lasallian Educational Mission: Challenges, Convictions and Hopes’ is the most recent substantive statement on our shared Lasallian educational mission. Released by Brother Superior General Robert Schieler, FSC, and the General Council on April 30, 2020, the anniversary of Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s birth, the 45th General Chapter (2014) and the 2nd International Mission Assembly (2013) called for this document, which is intended to ‘give us a central reference point for our educational work so that it is life-giving and creative for [those] entrusted to our care’ (Page 8). …

“What is the Declaration? The Declaration could well serve as a primer on the Lasallian mission, offering as it does four distinct parts that include the historical development of the Institute, those who have been and continue to be engaged in the educational mission, the fundamental theological and pedagogical principles that serve as the foundation of the mission, and a nod toward the future and its challenges. The text is readable, engaging, informative and, at points, challenging. It speaks to those who have been engaged in the mission for many years and those new to the Lasallian family.”

Read the full article

Morgan Prokosch

Saint Mary’s University junior Morgan Prokosch was awarded a $1,000 Dr. Willard Thompson Scholarship from the Minnesota Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Minnesota PRSA states the “scholarship recognizes students who excel in the study of public relations and communications.” A panel of Accredited Public Relations (APR) professionals judge the student entries. Prokosch was one of two students from eligible colleges in Minnesota and South Dakota who were awarded scholarships. Prokosch is a double major in public relations and digital media and journalism, has a general business minor, and is in the Lasallian Honors Program.