St. Kate’s celebrates student achievement at 2026 Honors and Awards Ceremony

On Monday, April 13, the St. Catherine University community gathered in Rauenhorst Ballroom to celebrate the student leadership and accomplishments at the annual Honors and Awards Ceremony. The event honored 2025–26 recipients of the prestigious All-University Student Leadership Awards, Antonian Scholars, and other select honors and awards, including inductees into top honor societies.

“This is a wonderful day to celebrate student achievement and the hard work that goes into every final project, every research paper, every program, and every event,” said President Marcheta P. Evans, PhD, in remarks recorded ahead of the ceremony, which she was unable to attend. “We are grateful to celebrate all of our students’ endeavors, all their achievements, and all of their academic journeys.”

Mary E. McCahill Memorial Award

Presented to: Rachel DeLong

Recognized as the University’s highest award, the Mary E. McCahill Memorial Award is nominated by staff, faculty, and students and selected by a committee of staff and faculty. Established in 1959 by Eugene McCahill, a longtime friend of the University and member of the Board of Trustees, to commemorate his mother, a close friend of Mother Antonia McHugh, it is presented to a senior who has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, academic excellence, loyalty, and dedicated service to the St. Kate’s community throughout their collegiate experience.

Dean of Students Award

Presented to: Victoria Lo, Hejara Mohammed

The Dean of Students Award recognizes a senior who has made an outstanding contribution toward the accomplishment of the University’s mission throughout their years at St. Catherine by demonstrating exceptional leadership, integrity, and commitment to enhancing campus life. This student has gone above and beyond in fostering a positive and inclusive community, advocating for student needs, and embodying the values of service, collaboration, and academic excellence.

Helen B. Lemmer Award in Honor of Mother Antonia McHugh

Presented to: Eleanor Anderson

Traditionally regarded as the University’s highest academic award, this honor is the only All-University Student Award selected exclusively by faculty. Established by the St. Catherine University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors and endowed in honor of Helen B. Lemmer, Class of 1954, to commemorate the centennial of Mother Antonia McHugh’s birth, it recognizes an exceptional liberal arts student who demonstrates academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and purpose. The recipient shows a strong commitment to graduate study and the promise of a distinguished academic career, reflecting the mission and values of St. Kate’s and the potential to become a future professor who would make Mother Antonia proud.

Mary Alice Muellerleile Leadership Award

Presented to: Meghan Wolfe

This award was created in 1982 and first presented in 1983, honoring the director of continuing education at St. Kate’s from 1977 to 1979 — herself a graduate of 1960. The distinction 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.

Michael J. Baynes Reflective Life Award

Presented to: Katherine Muller

The Michael J. Baynes Reflective Life Award honors the memory and accomplishments of Michael J. Baynes, associate director of student life on the Minneapolis campus from 1998 to 2012. It is given to a student in the College for Adults (with preference to students in the associate degree programs) who, through leadership, 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 Awards

Presented to: Eleanor Anderson, Luwam Balihu, Sophi Cahalan, Natalie Chandler, Artam Enayat, Teagan Felling, Anna Friendshuh, Haley Glass, Olivia Lien, Helen McKinnon, Hadley Ninow, Baokou Yung

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.

Antonian Scholars

Jordan Alberts, Kyla Bohr, Lalisse Burka, Sophi Cahalan, Rachel DeLong, Anna Friendshuh, Khila Gambrell, Amanda Hang, Lillian Jones, Maeve Kelly, Kathryn Lewis, Victoria Lo, Rhaya Merrick, Hejara Mohammed, Mc Nienow, Brielle Peterson, Julia Schmitt-Mischke, Olivia Stevermer, Alayna Swainey, Taylor Takeuchi, Ella Tracy, Fia Vanderlan

Antonian Honors Senior Project Award Recipients

Kyla Bohr, Mc Nienow, Fia Vanderlan

The Antonian Honors program brings together students of exceptional ability and motivation in a dynamic academic community that fosters collaboration, leadership, and intellectual growth. Through interdisciplinary honors seminars and close work with faculty mentors, students are challenged to deepen their learning and expand their perspectives. Antonian Scholars culminate their experience by completing an original senior honors project showcasing their research or creative achievements.

Kappa Gamma Pi – St. Catherine Medal

Recipients: Anna Friendshuh

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.

Phi Beta Kappa

Inductees: Eleanor Anderson, Kyla Bohr, Lalisse Burka, Natalie Chandler, Rachel DeLong, Anna Friendshuh, Khila Gambrell, Anna Henry, Lillian Jones, Maeve Kelly, Olivia Lien, Paige Loidolt, Zoe McKillip, Bella Meier, Rhaya Merrick, Megan Nyholm, Kristen Oberle, Madeleine Paulosky, Kylee Sanow, Julia Schmitt-Mischke, Sylvia Schwantes, Sarah Shier, Natalee Sigfrids, Olivia Stevermer, Ella Tracy, Elizabeth Van Lith, Snow White, Shauna Yang

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 rights to have a chapter on its campus. Members enjoy networking resources through local and national chapters and employers 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 school, employers and graduate schools recognize the Phi Beta Kappa name its membership as an extraordinary accomplishment. 

George Floyd Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Recipient: Courtney Ferry

The history and values of St. Catherine University and our founders inspire a response to the call for racial justice brought forth by the death of George Floyd, Jr. on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The George Floyd Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund is an answer to this call and fuels St. Kate's mission of education as an expression of social justice. The George Floyd Memorial Endowed Scholarship fund is a prestigious annual scholarship intended to support a current student pursuing a degree at St. Kate’s that prepares them for a career to lead and promote social justice specifically related to racism.

Bonnie Jean and Joan Kelly Awards for Excellence in Creative and Scholarly Writing

Recipients: Samrawit Ameha, Haleigh Dunaski, Amanda Hang, Audrey Lo, Katelynn Peterson

These awards honor outstanding student writing across all disciplines at St. Catherine University. Supported by the Bonnie Jean Kelly and Joan Kelly Fund, two $2,500 awards are presented annually to undergraduate students whose work demonstrates exceptional creativity and academic excellence. Eligible submissions are original works completed for a St. Kate’s course during the academic year.