Brescia University “Spirit of Angela” Awards

Michele Johnston, left, and Jason Ward pose with their 2011 "Spirit of Angela" awards.

Brescia University honored a woman from Florida who is studying through the school’s online courses and a man embarking on a teaching career with the “Spirit of Angela” awards during the Founders Day Convocation on Jan. 25.

The “Spirit of Angela” recipients are students who were nominated by faculty, staff, or other students because they embody the characteristics or qualities that were evidenced in Saint Angela Merici’s life. Saint Angela founded the Company of Saint Ursula in Brescia, Italy, in 1535, and today the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph carry on her charism in all their ministries. The Ursuline Sisters established the Mount Saint Joseph Junior College in 1925, which was moved to Owensboro in 1950 and renamed Brescia College. In 1998 it became Brescia University.

Father Larry delivers the Founder's Day address while Academic Dean Sister Cheryl Clemons, left, looks on.

The 2011 Spirit of Angela recipients are Michele Johnston and Jason Ward. Johnston is the first Brescia online student to ever receive this award. She is the only woman in a class of 14 in Brescia’s online program for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla. Johnston is studying theology in preparation for serving in lay ecclesial ministry. She drove up from Florida to accept the award from Father Larry Hostetter, Brescia president.

Ward recently completed his student teaching and is now a substitute teacher in Daviess County, Ky. He is a husband, father, and avid reader who has the gift of connecting scholarly content to adolescent interest. A fellow teacher said of Ward, “If you want a job done, you can bet (Ward) will work and work until it is done and done well.”

Father Larry delivered the Founder’s Day address, in which he gave an update on the university. Also honored were 26 student leaders from university teams and organizations.