Saint Mary’s College Announces 2018 Lumen Christi Recipient

May 25, 2018 (Notre Dame, Ind.) — Saint Mary’s College honored Princess Mae Visconde ’18 with the 2018 Lumen Christi Award during Commencement on Saturday, May 19. As their time on campus comes to an end, seniors are recognized and awarded for representing their graduating class to the highest degree. The Valedictorians reflect the mind, the Outstanding Senior embodies the heart of the class, and the Lumen Christi Award recipient represents the soul. 

The Lumen Christi Award is the highest award the College confers upon a student. The recipient is recognized by the College community as an outstanding woman of faith who has lived the mission. She has excelled in both leadership and loyalty and has had a profound effect on the Saint Mary’s community. The name of the recipient is not revealed until the Commencement ceremony. 

“Being overwhelmed with God’s love is my Saint Mary’s experience. Everyone here, the faculty, the staff, the professors, my friends, and my peers have cultivated my growth here at Saint Mary’s,” Visconde shared during her acceptance speech. “I’m so thankful that I was able to develop relationships with everyone in this community because I don’t think I could find a community more loving, caring, and encouraging than my Saint Mary’s community.” 

According to her award citation, Visconde was an instrumental leader of Circle K, Student Diversity Board, and the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership (CWIL) Catalyst Experience Program. She was deeply involved in residence hall life as a Ministry Assistant. Visconde even joined a group of pilgrims who traveled to Peru. 

During the Peru pilgrimage, Visconde embraced the opportunity to visit with a patient in hospice. Although she couldn’t speak the language, she was invited to cut his hair and sit with him while he ate. “There is definitely nothing more joyous to me than being able to communicate, without the use of words, God’s love with people of all ages. It gave me a more focused sense of direction for my dream of becoming a doctor or working in the public health field,” Visconde shared. 

One of her nominators wrote, “Light has the capacity to illuminate hard to reach places by reaching around corners and infiltrating hidden spaces. This graduating senior has reached and befriended many through her hard work, her commitment to the well-being of others, and her humble faith. She is a true Lumen Christi.”