2016 Outstanding Senior Award Recipient Announced
May 5, 2016 (Notre Dame, Ind.)— Every year Saint Mary’s College honors three categories of seniors as exceptional representatives of their graduating class. The valedictorian(s) reflects the mind, the Lumen Christi Award recipient represents the soul, and the Outstanding Senior embodies the heart of the class.
The Saint Mary’s College Alumnae Association is proud to announce the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Senior Award is Eleanor Jones ’16. She will be honored at the Alumnae-Senior Champagne Brunch on Monday, May 9 as part of Senior Week festivities leading up to Commencement, Saturday, May 14.
Tradition dictates that the recipient of this award be someone who carries out the beliefs of her faith in daily living and is distinguished by scholarship, leadership, and outstanding dedication to Saint Mary’s—as demonstrated through participation in both curricular and extracurricular activities.
Mana Derakhshani, director of the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership, nominated Jones for the award, calling her “one of the most remarkable young women and students I have known in my years as a teacher and mentor.”
Jones will graduate magna cum laude with a degree in global studies. Jones did more than take the required courses for her major; she experienced global studies by traveling and living abroad, and getting to know people, cultures, and even their challenges first hand.
“The more I learn about the way other people live, the more I learn about myself,” Jones said. “I have learned the value of making friendships that transcend physical and cultural boundaries. Everyone I meet gives me new insight and a different perspective on the world. There is an inherent value in learning about other cultures. Intercultural communication is vital towards making a positive difference in our world. Experiencing and learning from cultures different than our own can help avoid misunderstandings and break down negative stereotypes.“
Jones spent a year in South Africa and made friends with students there, gaining a good understanding of the political and social contexts of the culture. When she returned, she took part in a gender and women’s studies course that runs parallel with the State Department-sponsored Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) on Women’s Leadership held on campus during the summer.
During the SUSI Jones met young women from the Middle East and North Africa and befriended them in profound ways. Four participants from Jordan came up with the idea to start a cab service in Amman with women drivers for women passengers. Eleanor believed in their idea so wholeheartedly, she traveled to Jordan with a Saint Mary’s staff member and a professor to support the women as they pitched the business idea to U.S. Embassy officials. Jones also led a fundraising initiative on campus to support the venture. She impressed the State Department so much that they featured her in a webinar and asked her to speak at a conference in Washington.
Derakhshani said Jones demonstrates the College’s values of justice and community in other ways too. For two years she led a food recovery project that saves unused food from the Dining Hall and delivers it to the Center for the Homeless in South Bend. She also worked with Dining Services to start a composting program.
Derakhshani said, “Eleanor Jones represents the best of what we want to see in a Saint Mary’s graduate: a strong and vibrant intellectual life; a commitment to service and making a difference in the world; and a spirit of selfless leadership. Heart is the word that comes to mind in thinking about Eleanor. Her heart is open and loving in her service to others.”
About Saint Mary's College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. Saint Mary’s College also offers two graduate degrees: a Master of Science and a Doctorate. All programs that fall under these degrees are co-educational and include a Master of Science in Data Science, a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College seeks, according to its mission statement, to educate students, develop their talents, and prepare them to make a difference in the world. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2016 published by U.S. News & World Report. Follow Saint Mary's College on Twitter @saintmarys and @saintmarysnews.
Contact for News Media: Gwen O'Brien, director of integrated communications, Saint Mary's College, gobrien@saintmarys.edu (574) 284-4579.