Extraordinary Service Award
The Extraordinary Service Award is presented to SJU students who exhibit " Caritas," a Christian or Christ-like love for others. Caritas is more than a feeling of positive regard or care for others for it always leads to the outpouring or giving of oneself through service to others which provides healing or builds them up and honors their dignity as persons who bear the image and likeness of God. Caritas is most commonly extended to persons or communities in need, to those who are treated as of lesser value because of some condition in their life.
The Extraordinary Service Award seeks to encourage and honor Johnnies who demonstrate caritas through their service to others while enrolled at Saint John's University. Extraordinary Service may begin in a variety of ways such as through an academic service-learning requirement; through volunteer service related to student development programming, through a work program, or through self-initiative with an external agency or even through no agency at all; but it shows a personal commitment that goes beyond expectations in one or more of the following characteristics:
- Demonstrates a personal commitment to service which builds or extends community through Benedictine Values and/or
- Demonstrates a personal commitment to service which promotes justice through one or more of the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching
- Demonstrates a significant investment of personal time and/or talent
- Demonstrates significant impact on the beneficiaries of service that is consistent with Benedictine Values and/or principles of Catholic Social Teaching
- Demonstrates the ability to collaborate or work with others so as to accomplish a greater good
- Demonstrates thoughtful reflection about service in light of Benedictine Values and/or Catholic Social Teaching
The Awards
Three awards will be given this year to three outstanding Johnnies. Each recipient will receive an award of $2,000 for their demonstrated commitment to service. A student may only receive this award once during his time at SJU.
The Selection Process
Early in the spring semester, a call for nominations is issued to CSB/SJU students, staff, faculty, and the monastic community. In determining the recipients of this award, the Extraordinary Service Award Selection Committee considers the above characteristics.
After being nominated, the students will be required to write one 300 - 700 word essay collectively answering the following questions:
- What are the service activities that have been most important to you and/or the Saint John's Community? (relating to self-initiated service, academic service, campus/student life service, and work related service)
- Why is this work important to you?
- How does your service work connect with the Benedictine Values and/or Catholic Social Teaching?
Nominees must also submit a copy of their résumé listing their service experience in the following three categories: Self-Initiated, Academic, and Work.
2022 Recipients: Press Release
Joseph Penny
Isaac Kubalak
Emmett Adam
Past Recipients
2021 Recipients
Logan Edwards
Tyler Koll
Kriston Clarke
2020 Recipients
Quinlen Marshall
Alexander Modeas
Andrew Smith
2019 Recipients
Will Gillach
Michael Kelly
Muqkadeen Poole
Simean Farquharson
2018 Recipients
Ryan Graham
Austin Hingtgen
Nathan Williams
Matthew Burgstahler
2017 Recipients
Owyn Ferguson
Gary Harala
Donovan Inniss
Cody Kohut
2016 Recipients
Peter Johnson
Abdirizak Jama
Ramond Mitchell
Frantz Soiro
2015 Recipients
Lukas Steffensmeier
Matthew Fink
Jake Barrientos
Austin Barkley
2014 Recipients
Kevin Curwick
Jake Collins
Jesse Wild
Brian Vander Heiden
2013 Recipients
Edwin Torres
Justin Markon
Connor Klausing
Stephen Gross
2012 Recipients
Chris Heitzig
Andy Hovel
Carlos Dabu
Will Newkirk