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.

New Saint Mary's University program brings private college cost within reach

WINONA, Minn. - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has created the Brother James Miller Scholarship for Access, designed to assist good students in the low- to middle-income range who might not otherwise be able to afford a private college.

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Saint Mary's guarantees that comprehensive charges for all qualified freshmen enrolling at the Winona campus in fall 2007 will be equal to or less than the cost to in-state students attending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. (Comprehensive charges include tuition, room, meals and fees). Lower-income families may also qualify for federal and state aid that further reduces their cost.
The 2007-08 overall cost to attend Saint Mary's is $28,528. The University of Minnesota, where costs for next year have not yet been set, was used for a comparable financial guideline as the in-state flagship public university, with costs in the median range of other Big 10 schools. The estimated minimum value of the Brother James Miller Scholarship for Access will exceed $45,000 per student over a four-year period. Saint Mary's has allocated an additional $684,000 to fund freshman scholarships and grants in 2007-08.
“We're excited to offer this new guarantee,” said Tony Piscitiello, vice president for admission. “Often students whose parents are in the low- to middle-income range do not consider attending private schools - even Saint Mary's - because they believe it is not affordable, despite the available grants and financial aid.”
Brother Craig J. Franz, Saint Mary's president, added, “We're proud of the quality education SMU offers - including the highly individualized attention students receive to better achieve their educational goals. With the Brother James Miller Scholarship for Access, more students will be able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by Saint Mary's.”
As a Lasallian institution, Saint Mary's tradition is to make quality education accessible and affordable, with special sensitivity to economically challenged families.
The new scholarship program is named for Brother James Miller, a 1966 Saint Mary's graduate who did mission work in Nicaragua and Guatemala. It was in the latter country - while doing God's work of bringing education, faith and hope to marginalized people - that he was shot and killed on Feb. 13, 1982.
To qualify for the Brother James Miller Scholarship for Access, students must be entering freshmen in fall 2007, have parental adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less, be dependent of parent(s), be “B” students, and meet requirements specified online at www.smumn.edu/access.
Check the website for more information or call the Office of Admission at (800) 635-5987.