2023–24
A YEAR OF
At St. Catherine University, we aim to enrich the lives of students through rigorous academic inquiry and deep co-curricular involvement so they are prepared to shape the future of their communities, and lead with grace and integrity.
The annual Honors and Awards ceremony celebrates the nominees and recipients of the All-University Student Leadership Awards, recipients of scholarships and departmental honors, and inductees into our academic honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa.
In 1937, St. Kate’s became the first Catholic college or university to be granted a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. This undergraduate honors organization — the oldest and most prestigious in the United States — recognizes outstanding achievement in the liberal arts.
Congratulations to all our students!
2023–24 Honors and Awards 3
All-University Student Leadership Award Recipients
Mary E. McCahill Memorial Award
Presented to:
Louise Ba
This award was established in 1959 by Eugene McCahill, a longtime friend of the University and past member of the Board of Trustees, in memory of his mother — a friend of St. Kate’s first dean and president, Mother Antonia McHugh.
It is the University’s highest award, presented to a senior who has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, academic excellence, loyalty and service to the University throughout their years at St. Catherine.
Dean of Students Award
Presented to:
Hannah Hausman
This award recognizes a senior who has made an outstanding contribution toward the accomplishment of the University’s mission throughout their years at St. Catherine.
Helen B. Lemmer Award in Honor of
Mother Antonia McHugh
Presented to:
Hannah Hausman
This award was established by the St. Kate’s chapter of the Association of University Professors and first presented in 1973, the centennial year of Mother Antonia’s birth. It is endowed by the family and friends of Helen B. Lemmer to recognize a student who intends to pursue a career in college or university teaching and exemplifies the ideals of St. Kate’s first president.
Mary Alice Muellerleile Student Leadership Award
Presented to:
Cori Knuckles
This award was created in 1982 and first presented in 1983. It honors the director of continuing education at St. Kate’s from 1977 to 1979 and recognizes a College for Adults bachelor’s student who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to their peers and St. Catherine University, and who has been an advocate of the strengths and development of women of all ages.
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Michael J. Baynes Reflective Life Award
Presented to:
Kathy Manlapas
Established by the family and friends of Michael J. Baynes, associate director of student life on the Minneapolis campus from 1998 until his tragic death in 2012, this award honors his memory and life accomplishments. Michael also had a profound impact on hundreds of students through his teaching of “The Reflective Woman” and “The Reflective Life” courses.
Michael exemplified the values of the Sisters of St. Joseph, lived out the mission of St. Catherine University, and through his example taught others how to be effective, ethical leaders.
This award is given to a student in the College for Adults (with preference to students in the associate programs) who, through leadership roles, service to peers and community, and adherence to high personal and academic standards, meets Mike’s daily challenge to himself and others to “Bring Good!”
Thomas More Award
This award is presented to students in any program or class who have demonstrated outstanding loyalty and service to the University, integrity, and have promoted campus community spirit. These students may have made a major contribution to a particular organization, department, program or issue or may have consistently contributed to a broad range of activities.
Presented to:
Gabrielle Agbenyiga
Kuntepi Chetana
Chalon Coley
Ari Green
Nayomi Her
Julie Huisken
Jasmine Koch
Sarah Miller
Abigail Nachreiner
Eva Ngono
Anchee Nitschke Durben
Ashley Pavlick
Bo Podgorski
Joe Ptacek
Emmie Verhaagh
Naomi Yangathia
M Yeager
2023–24 Honors and Awards 5
All-University Award Nominees
Mary E. McCahill Memorial Award Nominees
Leena Abdulla
Najma Abdullahi
Gabrielle Agbenyiga
Mumtaz Ahmed
Louise Ba
Cecilia Blum
Hannah Cavalli
Chalon Coley
Chloe Czech
Hannah Hausman
Melody Her
Nayomi Her
Lauren Johnson
Abigail Nachreiner
Eva Ngono
Isabelle Schadt
Tessa Schirmer
Jenna Schomas
Anna Singewald
Emmie Verhaagh
Vanessa Vil
Tc Yang
Naomi Yangathia
Dean of Students Award Nominees
Leena Abdulla
Gabrielle Agbenyiga
Louise Ba
Cecilia Blum
Hannah Cavalli
Chalon Coley
Erin Doyle
Kiara Gomes
Hannah Hausman
Lauren Henriksen
Melody Her
Nayomi Her
Lauren Johnson
Annette Kakuuku
Aubrey Lemon
Kelli Lumley
Abigail Nachreiner
Natalie Nemes
Eva Ngono
Anchee Nitschke Durben
Lexie Petrick
Katie Reeves
Tessa Schirmer
Jenna Schomas
Anneke van Oosterom
Emmie Verhaagh
Tc Yang
Naomi Yangathia
Helen B. Lemmer Award in Honor of Mother Antonia McHugh Nominees
Hannah Hausman
Isobel Honzay
Natalie Nemes
America Venegas Muniz
Mary Alice Muellerleile Student Leadership Award Nominee
Cori Knuckles
Michael J. Baynes Reflective Life Award Nominees
Cindy Dutill
Kathy Manlapas
Kyle O’Neil
Jenn Wokson
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Thomas More Award Nominees
Samia Abdalla
Leena Abdulla
Zahra Abufoor
Luul Adam
Gabrielle Agbenyiga
Josibeth Aguilera
Mumtaz Ahmed
Abby Althoff
Ashley Aucaquizhpi
Louise Ba
Jenni Ballinas Mendez
Brenna Bartell
Cecilia Blum
Kaitlin Boyles
Sydney Brown
Thalia Burciaga
Hannah Cavalli
Kuntepi Chetana
Chalon Coley
Sydney Comeau
Chloe Czech
Kenzie Elsenpeter
Nicole Gillespie
Kiara Gomes
Ari Green
Kenzie Gruber
Hannah Hausman
Lauren Henriksen
Melody Her
Nayomi Her
Nadia Hinman
Julie Huisken
Kennedy Hutchens
Lauren Johnson
Leah Keith
Moira Knepper
Katie Knox
Jasmine Koch
Grace Kordus
Melody Kosbab
Bella Lee
Aubrey Lemon
Jamie Levens
Katherine Lew
Erin Loterbauer
Madison Manger
Cassie Mankowski
Sarah Miller
Skylar Miller
Abigail Nachreiner
Natalie Nemes
Lucia Neuman
Maria Ngangsic-Asongu
Eva Ngono
Anchee Nitschke Durben
Bella Norcross
Eleanor Oakman
Tomi Ola
Farida Osman
Ashley Pavlick
Mya Peterson
Lexie Petrick
Mollie Pierson
Abby Pirkl
Bo Podgorski
Joe Ptacek
Emily Rodriguez Sanchez
Mikayla Roper
Yesica Salgado Palma
Isabelle Schadt
Fern Schiffer
Tessa Schirmer
Jenna Schomas
Anna Singewald
Linh Stoebner
Emma Svendsen
Taylor Takeuchi
Rylee Thompson
Mia Timlin
Cristy Torres Eumana
Anneke van Oosterom
Connie Vang
America Vengeas Muniz
Emmie Verhaagh
Durate Worika
BaoBai Xiong
Tc Yang
Houshee Yang
Naomi Yangathia
M Yeager
2023–24 Honors and Awards 7
IN PRAISE OF FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Today we celebrate academic success and the success of our students, whose education is our mission out in the world. Whatever path each chose through St. Catherine University — the College for Adults, the College for Women, or the Graduate College — we applaud your passion and tenacity.
St. Catherine University educates the whole person and prepares them to be citizens of the world. We challenge students to transformational leadership.
Our Catholic identity embraces Catholic Social Teaching because it cultivates justice and peace, helps bridge differences and fosters respect and dignity across faiths, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Now more than ever, our communities need St. Kate’s graduates who are prepared to live these principles.
We aspire to be innovators in women-centered education in classrooms that value diverse voices and viewpoints in a rich learning community. It’s an academic culture that values women, celebrates their contributions and examines the history of women across cultures. It doesn’t separate our students from the real world; it prepares them to thrive in the real world with confidence and purpose.
St. Catherine University is committed to the liberal arts as the broad base of learning and to the pursuit of excellence for its students. With the liberal arts integrated throughout every program, from associate to graduate level, women and men who graduate from St. Kate’s are prepared for a world in which respect for diverse voices and
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perspectives, critical thinking, and a desire and ability to work toward social change are crucial. A liberal arts education not only develops the skills employers want, it also fosters the skills to help improve our communities and develop the creativity that contributes to a rich life.
On a campus that prides itself on equality and social justice, and with a commitment to make sure every student knows they belong and are valued, a ceremony focusing on singling individuals out for their achievements might seem out of place.
But publicly celebrating individual achievements and success is critically important for all of our students in every program to build self-confidence and to demonstrate support for others.
It takes self-confidence to accept awards and it’s a generous gesture to nominate others for awards. Honors and awards reinforce good leadership — whether it’s winning with grace or losing with grace both are lifelong skills that are important to learn. Done well, it speaks volumes to character and future success. No one wins all the time and cheering each other on not only helps others — it says something about you. If we cheer each other on, there is nothing we cannot accomplish.
We wish great success to you and hope you will return to campus often — to share your story with first-year students, to offer feedback that helps others prepare for research presentations, to connect with other alums at alumni events. No matter the program, school or college, there are ongoing opportunities to network and advance your career, learn something new, and enjoy the camaraderie. The St. Catherine University community is always here — you are never alone.
– ReBecca Koenig Roloff
Antonian Scholars and Project Titles
The honors program offers students of outstanding academic ability an opportunity to study and work with one another in a specially designed program of liberal arts studies. The program offers special seminars to deepen the level of learning and to provide for independent scholarship. An honors program student must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and successfully complete the six requirements of the honors program. In the senior year, the student completes an independent research project of their choosing under the direction of a faculty member to earn the designation of Antonian Scholar.
Gabrielle Agbenyiga – Qualitative Research Study: What are the Methods and Impacts of Supporting Rural Community Development? A focus on Women’s Nutrition and Food Access, Financial Literacy, and Economic Independence in Rural Senegal.
Asanti Ahmed – Scientific Storytellers: Bridging the Gap between Science and Society
Mumtaz Ahmed – Understanding Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions Towards Reusable Menstrual Products
Katharine Bendel – Developing an Optimized Clean-up Method and Contaminant Assay for Mass Spectrometry-based Proteomics
Samantha Bergstedt – Agriculture and Agencies: The Need for Systemic Agricultural Change to Ensure National Nutrition
Chloe Czech – Nutrition Resources to Address Hypertension for People Who are Unhoused
Emma Goldeman – Nurture the Nurse
Janelle Guse – Major Changes with Major Changes
Hannah Hausman – Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Students at St. Kate’s
Isabel Honzay – Application of the Envelope Theorem and its Converse in Art Auctions
Madelyn Johnson – The Medicinal Value of Food
Leah Keith – Searching for Home in Temporary Spaces
Abigail Malek – Yarn Bombing for CRPS Awareness
Skylar Mattson – Improving Balance in Women 50 and Older Through Immersive Virtual Reality Training: An Analysis of Balance Confidence
Natalie Nemes – ‘A Pathological People-pleaser’: Analyzing the Evolving Personas of Taylor Swift from a Feminist Perspective
Sara Peterson – Play and Art: An Analysis of Play Therapy and Art Therapy
Maiah Robert – Pharmaceutical Evolution: Demonstrating the Interplay Between Scientific Advancements and Cultural Transformations in Healthcare
Regan Rockswold – Where are All the Women? Exploring Women’s Stories for an Integrative History Course
Tessa Schirmer – My Hands are Magic!
Maddie Smith – “Alexander and his Friend Diego: Alexander y su amigo Diego”
Naomi Stewart – Chronically Unknown: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Invisible Illness, and the Prosperity Gospel
Lauren Trowbridge – Mary had a Little Lamb
Anneke van Oosterom –Investigating Metal Concentrations in the Nectar of Cucurbita pepo Flowers Across Time and Sexes
Theo von Weiss – A Safe Space for Play and Gathering
M Yeager – Interconnected & Intertwined: Naming, Labelling & Identity
*Antonian Honors Senior Project Awards
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Featured
Honor Societies –
New Members
Kappa Gamma Pi
Kappa Gamma Pi, the National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society, exemplifies excellence in leadership, scholarship, faith, and service. The diverse membership serves as a network of motivated people who support each other and the wider community in the search for justice, compassion, and wisdom. Students of all faiths are welcomed to the membership of Kappa Gamma Pi.
Katharine Bendel
Lauren Trowbridge
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society. In the fall of 1937, The College of St. Catherine (now St. Catherine University) earned the right to have a chapter on its campus. Members enjoy networking resources through local and national chapters and employer recognition of the high standards held by Phi Beta Kappa members. Since Phi Beta Kappa selects only the highest-achieving students from the nation’s top schools, employers and graduate schools recognize the Phi Beta Kappa name, and know membership is an extraordinary accomplishment.
Mumtaz Ahmed
Ashley Aucaquizhpi
Louise Ba
Katharine Bendel
Kaleah Green
Melody Her
Nayomi Her
Leah Keith
Melody Kosbab
Jessica Loera
Erin Loterbauer
Danielle Miller
Claudia Milum
Natalie Nemes
Bo Podgorski
Regan Rockswold
Calyn Schardt
Tessa Schirmer
Ashley Torres Gurrola
Anneke van Oosterom
Theo von Weiss
M Yeager
Featured Academic Awards
Senate Awards
Deb Miner Award for the Pursuit of Student Leadership
Tialy Yang
Nichole Miller Social Justice Award
Leena Abdulla
Excellence in Public Service Award
Mollie Pierson
Club Awards
Community Development
Nurses of Color
Excellence in Inclusion
Special Olympics Club
Outstanding Co-Sponsored Program/Event
QSA for Queer Prom
Outstanding Program/Event
SHE Pab for Hmong New Year
2023–24 Honors and Awards 11
Mentors
Cited by All-University Award Nominees
Erick Agrimson
Kellie Agrimson
Elizabeth Allen
Emily Asch
Julie Bass
Rebecca Beru-Davis
Susan Bosher
Amy Bowers
Zoe Brown
Amy Cabellero
Jill Campbell
Katherine Campbell
Michael Cavalli
Rafael Cervantes
Anne Marie Champagne
Carol Chase
Josie Christian
Lacey Chu
Holly Clynch
Taiyon Coleman
Ambria Crusan
Kathleen Czech
Todd Deutsch
Cindy Dols Finn
Jennifer Downs
Andrew Dreyling
Jon Duellman
Dan Eckberg
Sr. Angela Ekwonye
Jade Erickson
Paula Furey
Carol Geisler
Mary Giorgi
Daniel Gonzalez
Elizabeth Govern
Allyson Green
Bethlehem Gronneberg
Josh Guggenheimer
Kim Ha
Mulki Habad
Amy Hamlin
Dorothea Hansmeyer
Rachel Harriss
Sarah Hassebroek
Mary Hedenstrom
Nancy Heitzig
Nicole Hempler
Mary Henderson
Mary Heppner
Amy Hilden
Christina Hillquist
Stacey Hurrell
Melinda Huston
Mike Hvidsten
Habiba Ibrahim
Daron Janzen
Angela Johnson
Lauren Johnson
Sami Johnson
Brian Jonart
Andrea Kalis
Debbie Katona
Susi Keefe
Hugo Klaers
Chris Kleckner
Ann Koller
Caroline Krafft
Lynsay Lambrecht
Elle Larson
Jewelly Lee
Kia Lee
Suzanne Lehman
Jessie Lenarz
Nawojka Lesinski
David Lesniaski
Kristen Lillvis
Mariah Lossing
Zachary Ludwig
Anne Maloney
Gina Mancini-Samuelson
Brad Marshall
Meghan Mason
Margret McCue-Enser
Tami McDonald
Rebecca McGill
Marcy Mears
Beth Meighan-Palanivel
Jessica Miehe
Mary Moberg
Anne Moe
Anthony Molaro
Katie Molitor
Patricia Montalbano
Jen Moore
Michelle Mullowney
Julie Mumm
Leso Munala
Marcie Myers
Rachel Neiwert
Xia Neng Xiong
Anh-Hoa Nguyen
Mary Nienow
David Norris†
Andrea O’Connell
Sophadriana Oum
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Anupama Pasricha
Sarah Pavey
Lucia Pawlowski
John Pellegrini
Gabby Perez
Amanda Perrin
David Pieper
Shelby Pointer
Lana Prokop
Christina Purfeerst
Sara Rand
Sara Rippie
Viv Ross
Lacey Rotier
Lisa Rovick
Rahul Roy
Monica Rudquist
Alisha Samuel
Elly Schafer
John Schmidtt
Jessica Scholl
Erin Schumacher
Arturo Sesma Jr.
Deep Shikha
Debbie St. Anthony
Angela Stanco
Alicia Stock
Riley Swoope
Mary Thomas
Chante Thurmond
Andrea Toft
Katherine Tolcser
Jo Treat-Haug
D’Ann Urbaniak Lesch
Heather Van Grootheest
Adrienne Verma
Jordan Vlasak
Gabe Wardin
Edie Wasyliszyn
Nicole Watson
Jordyn Wentzel
Kristine West
Nienke Wijnia
Hui Wilcox
Carey Winkler
Karen Wong
Maureen Wosepka
Konhe Yoon
Joyce Yukawa
Katrice Ziefle
Tamara Zurakowski
2023–24 Honors and Awards 13
Sustained by a legacy of visionary women, St. Catherine University is a diverse community of learners dedicated to academic rigor, core Catholic values, and a heartfelt commitment to social justice. St. Kate’s offers degrees at all levels in the humanities, arts, sciences, healthcare, and business fields that engage students in uncovering positive ways of transforming the world. St. Kate’s students learn and discern wisely, and live and serve justly — all to power lives of meaning.
2004 Randolph Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105
651-690-6000 | stkate.edu
