Six honored at Founder's Day ceremony
Brother Paul Joslin, FSC, left, and Brother Martin Spellman, FSC ‘54, received Presidential Awards for Outstanding Merit at Founder’s Day.
At its Founder’s Day ceremony Feb. 27, Saint Mary’s University honored an alumnus, killed 25 years ago while working in Guatemala; two Christian Brothers; a dedicated faculty member; and two outstanding seniors. Founder’s Day is the annual celebration of the founding of Saint Mary’s in 1912 by Winona Bishop Patrick R. Heffron.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Brother James Miller, FSC ’66. For Saint Mary’s it’s an appropriate time to remember the life of Brother James, a man whose mission was to better the lives of those he served.
Born in Wisconsin in 1944, Brother James Miller, FSC ’66 taught high school in the Midwest for several years before going to Nicaragua, and eventually Guatemala. At the Casa Indigena Huehuetenango, he taught English, religion and Guatemalan art to secondary students. Aware of the oppression of the indigenous people of Guatemala and their need to be trained in job skills and leadership skills, he helped begin an experimental farm where indigenous students learned agricultural methods and improvements. More importantly, he prepared native leaders for rural areas who would work for collective development in their villages.
Brother James Miller is remembered for his life’s work, and for the way his life ended. He was only 38 when he was killed by gunmen on February 13, 1982, as he was mending a wall outside a school in Guatemala. Saint Mary’s honors his memory with the Brother James Miller Campus Ministry Service Awards and with the Brother James Miller Scholarship for Access.
Two Brothers who were with Brother James at the time of his death, Brother Martin Spellman, FSC, ’54 and Brother Paul Joslin, FSC, received a Presidential Award for Outstanding Merit. Brother Martin currently serves as director of senior brothers for the Midwest District. Brother Paul is currently teaching at Hudson Catholic High School in Jersey City, N.J.
Preston Lawing,
2007 Severin Award winner
The 2007 Brother H. Charles Severin Award for Excellence in Teaching was presented to Preston Lawing at Founder’s Day as well. Lawing has been a member of the faculty since 1997. Over the years, he has shown consistent excellence in preparation of his courses, in communication and delivery of course material, and in fairness in dealing with students. He joins 20 other past and present faculty members as a Severin Award recipient. Recipients exemplify the teaching excellence and commitment to a student-centered learning that characterize a Saint Mary’s University education.
The Outstanding Male and Female Senior Awards were presented to students who have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership, service to colleagues and the university community. Above all, these men and women have shown genuine concern for meeting the needs of others. The Outstanding Male Senior Award went to Davey Warner, son of David and Valerie Warner of McGregor. The Outstanding Female Senior Award went to Sarah Bellingham, daughter of Jane Bellingham and Don Bellingham of Harmony.
This year's Outstanding Seniors are Davey Warner (back row, third from left) and Sarah Bellingham (front row, left).
The following students were finalists for the 2007 Outstanding Senior Awards: females, Sarah Engle, daughter of Michael and Alisan Engle of White Bear Lake; Amy Glasgow, daughter or Roger and Janet Glasgow of Dubuque, Iowa; Sarah Kay, daughter of John and Jeanne Kay of Rush City; and Sandra Mason, daughter of Bruce and Sherry Mason of Burnsville; males, John Clementz, son of Chris and Jean Clementz of Aurora, Ill.; Justin LeBreck, son of Paul and Mary Ann LeBreck of Cary, Ill.; Jacob Olzen, son of P.J. and Julie Olzen of Roselle, Ill.; and Aaron Reihl, son of Gary and Susan Reihl of Mantorville.
