In celebration of its heritage, Saint Mary’s University presented awards to two faculty members, one staff member, and two outstanding seniors at its annual Founders’ Day celebration on Tuesday, March 18, on the Winona Campus.
James Bedtke, MBA, vice president for facilities, received the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award. Presented each year, the award recognizes a member of the faculty, staff, or administration who exemplifies the ideals of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, expressed in the Twelve Virtues of a Good Teacher. The award is given by Lasallian institutions like Saint Mary’s in the Lasallian Region of North America of the De La Salle Christian Brothers to honor contributions and commitment to the Lasallian mission of education. During Jim Bedtke’s decades of service to Saint Mary’s University, he has held many positions, including faculty member, director of summer programming, school dean, associate vice president for academic affairs at the College, vice president of SGPP, and now vice president of university facilities for the past fifteen years. While he ensures campus buildings aren’t falling down or leaking, Jim is ever mindful that Saint Mary’s is about people – talented and committed individuals serving the university, and especially the students. He has been a mentor to students he taught and advised, and to employees he hired and supervised. Jim exemplifies the ideals of Saint John Baptist de La Salle as expressed in the twelve virtues of a good teacher, especially generosity, reserve, and humility.
Leah Gordon, DNP, program director, doctor of nursing practice nurse anesthesiology, received the Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC Award. Presented every two years, the award recognizes a full-time SGPP staff or faculty member who demonstrate excellence, innovation, and ethics in their work and build community by serving as a model of the Lasallian Catholic spirit. Leah’s indefatigable spirit helped to propel DNP800 — a pre-program chemistry and professional development course for nurses intending to enter nurse anesthesiology programs — to become an incredibly successful course. She juggles her multiple roles as DNP program director while giving 100% to participating in the DNP800 course, and she loves interacting with students, even those we only ever meet online. It is an honor to work with Leah and be inspired by her work ethic, ambition, and genuine collegiality.
Debra Martin, Ph.D., professor of biology, received the Brother H. Charles Severin, FSC Award. Presented every two years, the award recognizes tenured College faculty members who carry forward Brother Charles’ legacy of sustained excellence and creativity in teaching. Since Dr. Martin’s arrival at Saint Mary’s in 1993, she has demonstrated sustained excellence in teaching evident in her commitment to student learning. Deb is an outstanding teacher who integrates content expertise with fun, active in-class learning approaches. She has remained current in her field by attending academic conferences and providing leadership within the department for student research. Deb has supported student-led research projects every academic year and summer since she has been at the College. A mentor to her department colleagues and a go-to for best practices in her field, Dr. Martin has been a fantastic contributor to faculty outside of her department and to the University.
The university also announced its Outstanding Male and Female Seniors during the Founders’ Day celebration. Outstanding Seniors have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership, service to colleagues and the university community, as well as genuine concern for the needs of others.
This year, the honor went to Joel Tranel of Cuba City, Wis. and Maggie Newhouse of Owatonna, Minn. The eight other students nominated for Outstanding Senior included Caden Boyer, Wesley Larson, Peter Quinn, Anthony Joel (AJ) Ruskowski, Allison Ciero, Theresa DeGross, Nina Langley, and Allison Urlaub.
