The 2021 Presidents’ Awards from the Minnesota Campus Compact recognize, celebrate, and tell the story of great individuals, projects, and programs in Minnesota. The Presidents’ Awards are selected each year by the president of each member campus recognizing outstanding accomplishments in Student Leadership, Civic Engagement Leadership, and Community Partnership.
This year, Bridgette Hegarty, a junior student, was recognized with the President’s Student Leadership Award. This award is for an individual student or a student organization that models a deep commitment to civic responsibility and leadership, evidenced by initiative, innovative and collaborative approaches to addressing public issues, effective community building, and integration of civic engagement into the college experience. During this pandemic, Bridgette has evidenced a deep commitment to students at Saint Mary’s, and, especially, as an RA, her students in Skemp Hall. She has developed creative programming in her hall to create a sense of community there. She also worked as a new student orientation leader where she devoted her energy and many gifts to welcome new students to campus during this difficult time — once again creating a sense of community for them. She has been a role model for other students.
Ryan Egan, head coach for Men’s Hockey, was recognized with the Presidents’ Civic Engagement Leadership Award. This award is for a member of the faculty, administration, or staff, or for a group that has significantly advanced their campus’ distinctive civic mission by forming strong partnerships, supporting others’ civic and community engagement, and working to institutionalize a culture and practice of engagement. Prior to the pandemic, Coach Egan had high expectations for the men on his hockey team, both on and off the ice. The men were regular volunteers for numerous community service and campus service projects. During the pandemic, the men on the team could be counted on to assist the university with meal delivery for students in quarantine and isolation or with mass testing events for COVID. Coach Egan is clearly advancing the university’s mission to develop ethical leaders.
Congratulations to Bridgette and Coach Egan on these awards!