LATROBE, PA—On Thursday, Nov. 16, Saint Vincent College hosted its annual Founders’ Day Honors Convocation. Saint Vincent College president Rev. Paul Taylor, O.S.B., awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters to Rt. Rev. Olivier-Marie Sarr, O.S.B., B.A., S.T.L., Ph.D., Abbot of Keur Moussa in Senegal. Abbot Olivier also provided the Founders’ Day reflection.
In addition to the conferral of the honorary degree, employees were recognized for years of service to Saint Vincent and the Thoburn Excellence in Teaching Award and the Projecktenmacher Award were presented to members of College faculty. New to this year’s Winter Honors Convocation was the presentation of the Diakonia Award.
Employees recognized for 25 years of service to Saint Vincent were Michael “Mick” Janosko, head baseball coach, and Dr. Gilbert Bogner, associate professor of history.
Dr. Jessica Harvey, associate professor of communication and chair of the Communication Department in the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS), was presented with the Thoburn Excellence in Teaching Award by Dr. John Delaney, vice president for academic affairs.
The Projektenmacher Award was presented to Dr. Stacy Birmingham, professor of engineering and James F. Will Endowed Chair of Engineering in the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing, by Fr. Paul.
Deacon Craig Alexander of the Diocese of Greensburg was presented with the Diakonia Award by Rev. John Mary Tompkins, O.S.B., B.S., M.A., M.Div., vice rector of Saint Vincent Seminary.
A Seminary award, the Diakonia Award for Student Service recognizes a fourth-year seminarian who will graduate at the end of the current academic year, who both the student body, as well as the faculty, recommend as exhibiting outstanding academic performance, service to the Seminary community through contributing to student morale and spirit, leadership within the community and creative outreach to others. It has previously been given during the Seminary’s commencement ceremony in May.
“We are happy to make this change to our tradition,” expressed Fr. John Mary. “Presenting the award today adds to the campus-wide celebration of Boniface Wimmer and of our founders by highlighting the contributions of the Seminary and our students to Saint Vincent’s rich history.”
Following Honors Convocation, members of the SVC community were invited to the annual Founders’ Day Dinner, which was followed by a fireworks show.
PHOTO 1: Dr. Jeff Mallory, executive vice president and chief operating officer; Dr. John Delaney; Olivia Persin, C 24, Student Government Association president; Abbot Olivier-Marie Sarr; Fr. Killian Loch, Monastery prior; Fr. Paul Taylor; and Fr. François Diouf pose for a photo before the start of the Honors Convocation ceremony.
PHOTO 2: Members of the Saint Vincent College community attend Winter Honors Convocation.