LACEY, Wash. — Saint Martin’s University commemorated its 125th anniversary with a virtual celebration on Saturday, Nov. 7, raising over $1.4 million in critical scholarship funds for current and future Saints.
“Thank you to everyone for participating in our virtual anniversary celebration,” reflected Saint Martin’s University President Dr. Roy Heynderickx. “We are extremely grateful to our patrons, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends for their ongoing support of our students even in the midst of a pandemic.”
Serving as the university’s primary scholarship fundraising event for 2020, the 125th virtual celebration featured video stories from alumni and current students, as well as blessings from the monks of Saint Martin’s Abbey, including Abbot Marion Nguyen, O.S.B., who became the abbey’s ninth abbot in July.
“I wanted to thank especially the amazing monks that founded Saint Martin’s 125 years ago,” said Father Kilian Malvey, O.S.B., HS’55, ’64, professor of English and religious studies. “It’s amazing that they had the courage and the wisdom to come here to the Pacific Northwest to open this wonderful school.”
This year, many Saint Martin’s students were drastically impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and scholarships are more important than ever. All proceeds from the 125th Anniversary Celebration will be directed toward student scholarships.
“We were shaped by this place and it’s a really important part of our past,” said Tedi Reynolds ’71. “And we have the responsibility to make sure that opportunity is there for other people, for new generations, for generations to come.”
The 125th-anniversary virtual celebration continued an 18-month celebration of Saint Martin’s University’s 125 years as an institution of higher learning, committed to empowering students to make a positive difference in their lives and in the lives of others. The celebration will continue through the first half of 2021, culminating with the Saint Martin’s commencement ceremonies in May. To view a recording of the 125th anniversary celebration, visit www.stmartin.edu/125watch. Gifts for student scholarships can still be made at www.stmartin.edu/125give.
The 125th-anniversary virtual celebration event replaced the annual Saint Martin’s Gala, which was to be held on the same date and hosted by celebrity chef Jacques Pépin. Due to potential complications with the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall, the Gala featuring the world-renowned chef Pépin, and his daughter Claudine, has been rescheduled for next year, Nov. 6, 2021.
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPONSORS
Saint Martin’s University thanks the following sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor: Bon Appétit
125th Anniversary Celebration Sponsor: WSECU
Print Sponsor: Capitol City Press
Broadcast Media Sponsor: KCTS9
Social Media Sponsor: Aurora LASIK
Production Sponsor: The Rants Group
Wine Glass Sponsor: Sunset Air
Media Sponsor: Root Sports
Champagne Sponsor: Eola Hills
Print Media Sponsor: Showcase Magazine
Celebration Box Sponsor: Drees Olympia
Specialty Gift Sponsor: Panowicz Jewelers
Hospitality Sponsor: Columbia Hospitality
Saint Martini Sponsor: Chicago Title
Coffee Sponsor: Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters
Additional Saint Martin’s Sponsors: Alderbrook Resort and Spa, America’s Credit Union, Definiti LLC, FORMA Construction, Heritage Bank, Hotel RL Olympia, Kell-Chuck Glass, KGY Radio, Little Creek Casino, MJR Development, Moss Adams LLP, Olympia Federal Savings, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, Providence St. Peter Foundation, South Puget Sound Community College, Squaxin Island Tribe, Timberland Bank, TwinStar Credit Union, and US Bank.
Saint Martin’s University is an independent coeducational university, with undergraduate and graduate offerings, located on a wooded campus of more than 300 acres in Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University is one of 13 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. Saint Martin’s University prepares students for successful lives through its 29 majors, 11 master’s programs, one doctorate program and five certificate programs spanning the arts and sciences, business, counseling, education, engineering, nursing and leadership. Saint Martin’s welcomes more than 1,300 undergraduate students and 250 graduate students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its Lacey campus, and more students to its extended campus located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
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