Saint Mary’s annual Alumnae Association Awards ceremony honored three outstanding women on June 4, 2011, during Reunion Weekend. For more information about and a photo of an honoree, please click on her name.
Sheila Conlin Brown ’56 received the Distinguished Alumna Award, the association's highest recognition. Brown, who majored in nutrition at Saint Mary’s, was lauded for her devotion and generosity to the College in the 55 years since her graduation. She has helped solicit donations for the College’s development efforts, served on numerous Reunion Gift Campaign committees, chaired the Special Gifts Committee for Saint Mary’s Sesquicentennial Campaign, and served on the Alumnae Association Board of Directors. A charter member of the Madeleva Society, Brown also served on its steering committee.
Patrice Julia Tuohy ’81 received the Alumna Achievement Award for outstanding personal and professional accomplishments. After graduating from Saint Mary’s with a triple major in English, history, and religious studies, Tuohy studied in Ireland and launched her editorial career with a brief turn as a speech-writing assistant to then-Irish Labour Party Leader, Michael O’Leary. Her career includes writing and fact-checking for Encyclopaedia Britannica; serving as managing editor of U.S. Catholic magazine; founding TrueQuest Communications; and creating VocationMatch.com.
Stephanie Snyder Seliga ’06 was named Humanitas Award winner for her outstanding volunteer accomplishments and concern for the interests and welfare of others. Shortly after graduating from Saint Mary’s with a philosophy degree, Seliga joined AmeriCorps as its Kitchen Garden Project coordinator in Washington state. She has established garden-build celebrations, co-founded an edible landscaping company, and most recently became the youth program coordinator for the Seattle-based Ground Up Organics, which seeks to build self-sustaining communities by bringing young, diverse, inter-urban residents into the green food agricultural movement.