Four CSB alumnae to be honored with awards during Reunion Weekend festivities

Lori Helmer '85 will posthumously receive the S. Emmanuel Renner Service Award for her commitment to service at CSB. As a student, she was involved with the Accounting Club, Joint Events Council, Alpha Kappa Sigma sorority and VISTO Club, but her involvement carried on past graduation. From 2001-08 she served on the CSB Alumnae Board and was part of the CSB President's Circle for more than a decade. Professionally, she was a public accountant and later vice president of Northern Trust before passing away in 2014.

Denise DeVaan '75 is this year's recipient of the Distinguished Alumna Award for her work as an activist with a handful of organizations including the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis. Throughout her illustrious career, she has worked to improve the lives of everyone she comes in contact with by trying to improve public policy. According to DeVaan, "Relationships are key. ... It is impossible to be successful in my line of work without partnerships between leaders of government, nonprofit and private sectors."

This year's Benedictine Service Award will go to Kristina (Tina) Seslija '10 for her work in her home country of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Seslija is the project manager for the Mozaik Foundation, an organization that is working to change the unemployment rates among women and inspire youth to do something positive with their lives.

Ellen Hunter Gans '05 is set to receive the Decade Award, which honors an alumna who is recognized by her peers as a great role model and leader for younger alumnae. She owns a writing consulting business that works with clients in a variety of industries. Since graduating from CSB, she has gone on to complete a Master of Arts degree from the University of Southern California and a Master of Science degree from the London School of Economics.