Notable Alumnae & Awards

Sandy Anderson '78, an early elementary school teacher at the St. John's Area School in Foley, Minn., will accept the 2012 Distinguished Teacher Award for Region 8 at the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) conference in Boston, Mass. in April. Region 8 includes Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. The award recognizes one teacher from each of the 12 regions across the country. Anderson has a passion for teaching, especially guiding her students through the preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion. She states, "This is a great way to renew my own faith as I see the faith of my students grow." In reflecting on the award, Anderson says, "It validates what I have done for the past 33 years and encourages me to continue to work hard and meet the needs of my students." She works to create a loving and caring atmosphere in her classroom and strives to ensure her students feel comfortable to take risks, believe in themselves and be supportive of others. 

Alumna Recognized as one of KARE 11's 'Eleven Who Care'

Joan DesLauriers Donner '80 was honored as one of KARE 11's 'Eleven Who Care' for her dedication to the Mora Food Shelf. Answering a call for volunteers posted in her church bulletin, Donner jumped at the opportunity to help. After only a few months, she was running the food shelf. Through her commitment to make a difference in the Mora community, Donner raised the number of families the food shelf helps from about 30 families each month, to now almost 350 families, all of which runs solely on donations and volunteers. In addition to working at the Food Shelf, Donner also attends Minnesota Food Share conferences annually, where she has the opportunity to choose from various workshops to learn more about food shelf work.

Internationally-Acclaimed Women's Heart Health Program Led by Alumna

Jackie Boucher '87 is the Vice President for Education at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF), a position she has held since 2007. Recognized nationally for her work regarding education, nutrition and prevention programs concerning heart disease, Boucher is currently the editor-in-chief of Diabetes Spectrum, the second ranked publication on diabetes. She also leads a team for the internationally-acclaimed Heart of New Ulm Project and a new program on women's heart health with the MHIF. After graduating from Saint Ben's, she received  her master's degree from the University of Minnesota, which included a research project for her thesis  on the eating habits of the 160 Sisters at Saint Ben's. Boucher is pursuing her Ph.D. from the University of New Jersey, while continuing her work  at MHIF.