Saint Mary’s University receives $2 million gift for speaker series and scholarships

(WINONA, Minn.) —An anonymous donor has given $2 million to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. The largest gift ever received by its Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs will fund endowed scholarships for adult, non-traditional students completing their bachelor and graduate degrees, and provide for a major new Twin Cities speaker series.

The series, to be held annually at a Twin Cities venue, will feature renowned guest speakers. Saint Mary's University will sponsor the event with its Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership, whose student and community programs emphasize the importance of ethical principles, morals, spirituality, and free enterprise. At this event, the keynote speaker will present an award to an outstanding leader for their contributions to global ethical initiatives.

Brother Louis DeThomasis, Saint Mary's chancellor, expressed his "immense gratitude" to the anonymous donor, noting that this gift will help the university in its mission to make life-changing education accessible and affordable. "We're excited that the gift also will allow us to bring a top-flight event to the Twin Cities that will spotlight the national need for ethical leadership," DeThomasis added.

More than 4,000 adult learners at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota attend non-traditional certificate, bachelor-completion, master degree, specialist and doctoral programs at locations in Minneapolis, Apple Valley, Rochester, Winona, around the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and Nairobi, Kenya.

“The need for open discussion and learning on values-based leadership has never been greater,” commented Kaye O’Leary, chief financial officer of Buca, Inc., a Twin Cities business executive with interests in ethical issues. “This gift will help Saint Mary’s University to show our current leaders — and the leaders of the future — the importance of values-based, ethical leadership, and it provides a platform for the recognition of leaders who are getting it right.”