LACEY, Wash. — Saint Martin’s University is proud to announce that it has been awarded Gold in the Higher Education category in the 2025 Best of South Sound awards, marking the second year in a row the University has received this top honor.
The Best of South Sound, hosted annually by The Olympian and determined entirely by community votes, highlights outstanding institutions that make a positive difference in their communities.
“We are deeply honored to be named the Gold winner in Higher Education once again,” said Bill Brownsberger, S.T.D., president of Saint Martin’s University. “This recognition shows that we are living our mission of forming students who are dedicated to serving our community. I'm proud of the faculty, staff and students at Saint Martin’s who carry out that mission every day.”
Founded in 1895 by Benedictine monks, Saint Martin’s has been serving the South Sound community for over 130 years—providing generations of students with a values-driven education rooted in faith, reason and service. Rooted in its Catholic, Benedictine values, Saint Martin’s University offers a transformational educational experience that champions academic excellence, social mobility and a strong sense of community. With small class sizes, a distinguished faculty, and a focus on personalized learning, the University is dedicated to creating opportunities for students from all backgrounds to succeed.
“At Saint Martin’s, we believe in the potential and unique gifts that every student brings,” said Patty Lemon, dean of admissions. “This award reflects our commitment to making higher education accessible and transformative for students who are ready to make a difference in their lives and in their communities.”
Each year, Saint Martin’s serves a vibrant student population that includes first-generation college students, military-affiliated students, international learners, working adults and others from all walks of life pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. With accredited, award-winning programs spanning engineering, business, health, and the arts and sciences, the University prepares students to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world with skill, purpose and heart.
Saint Martin’s University thanks the South Sound community for its continued support and for recognizing the University’s enduring commitment to empowering students and serving the common good.
About Saint Martin’s University:
Saint Martin’s University is an independent coeducational university, with undergraduate and graduate offerings, located on a wooded campus of more than 380 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 empowers students to pursue a lifetime of learning and accomplishment through its 31 majors, 11 master’s programs, one doctorate program and six 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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