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Saint Xavier University celebrated Mission Day on March 26 which is coordinated by the Office for Mission and Heritage.
The purpose of the celebration is to highlight the closing line of SXU’s mission statement that reads: “to serve wisely and compassionately in support of human dignity and the common good.”
The Mission Day Awards Ceremony, which was held in the Fourth Floor Boardroom of the Warde Academic Center, celebrated three members of the Saint Xavier community who received the University’s most prestigious service awards.
Students, faculty, staff and guests of the award recipients attended the ceremony to congratulate and honor the three individuals.
“We honor those who show that our work and our study are about much more than earning a paycheck or spending our time, and much more than fulfilling our own needs, wants, goals, and ego.” said Dr. Andrea Stapleton, the director of Mission Integration and Mercy Heritage.
“The awards have been established to honor those who demonstrate that our efforts here, in whatever role we play in the SXU community, have significance and meaning, and contribute to the dignity of life and to the common good.”
The Mother Paulita Morris, R.S.M. Award Student Service Award was presented to Honor student Megan Lavelle, a senior Nursing major. The award, which is named after a Sister of Mercy who was committed to learning and serving others, honors students who exemplify the characteristics of service and leadership.
Lavelle is known for her commitment and service to the various organizations and activities with which she is involved. She is currently a leader of several student organizations, a service trip peer minister, a member of Sigma Theta Tau, and an orientation leader.
The Sister Isidore Perrigo, R.S.M. Staff Service Award, which honors a staff member who has served the university in an exemplary fashion, was presented to Brian Hotzfield for his service to the university as the executive director of Admission in the Office of Admission.
The award is named after a key figure in the acquisition of SXU’s Chicago campus who was known for her kindness which adds special significance to the award for Hotzfield.
“I am honored to be this year’s recipient of the Sister Isidore Perrigo award. Sister Isidore was an amazing woman who was committed to hard work and service to the Saint Xavier University community. I am very humbled to receive an award named in her honor,” said Hotzfield. “I proudly accept this award on behalf of all my wonderful colleagues in the Office of Admission, Office of Graduate Admission, and the University Call Center. They are hardworking, wonderful people!”
Finally, the Saint Xavier University Award for Faculty was presented to Kathleen McInerney, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Education. Dr. McInerney who has extensively researched ESL, EFL and dual language teaching, did not only receive the award because of her impressive scholarly contributions, but also for her commitment to service and human dignity.
She is involved in empowering teachers and building communities in the U.S. and abroad. Stapleton praised the recipients for their humility and selflessness which they demonstrated throughout the Mission Day celebration.
“All of the recipients of this year’s awards are other-centered and humble. In their acceptance speeches, they all credited others for their benevolence and other attributes that have provided them with the ability to bring their gifts to the world,” said Stapleton. “They are optimistic and perseverant problem-solvers. They are passionate about life. None of them seems to think that “service” is about extraordinary action, but more a way of being.”
All three recipients were nominated by members of the SXU community and were then recommended by a selection committee before finally being selected by University President Christine M. Wiseman, J.D.
According to President Wiseman, the awardees exemplify Saint Xavier University’s mission and Mercy identity. For Hotzfield, carrying out the closing line of the university’s mission is all about the way you treat others.
“To me, ‘serving wisely and compassionately in support of human dignity and the common good’ is fairly simple. It’s how I was raised – treat others how you would like to be treated, do what is right for others, and try to make some small difference in the lives of others,” said Hotzfield. “In my role in the Office of Admission, I feel we live this everyday by encouraging students to continue their education at Saint Xavier; an institution that cares about them as students and as people.”
A congratulatory reception was held in the Butler Reception room immediately following the ceremony. The room was full of members of the SXU community who were happy to celebrate the achievements of the award recipients.
“The awards ceremony and reception were absolutely incredible. It meant so much to me to have my family attend and meet my coworkers. It was a very special day to me, and I’ll remember it always,” said Hotzfield.
Yasmeen Abdellatif
News Correspondent
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