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2025 Mission Impact REPORT

July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Your support and encouragement of today’s Bennies help us shine a light on possibilities of a liberal arts education.

President’s Letter Dear <<Informal Salutation>>, Hope is a powerful attribute. It is not naive optimism. It is the steady, persistent belief that flourishing is always possible, even when the world feels uncertain or broken. Hope is action. Hope is listening. Hope is showing up. It’s also deeply Benedictine. It is grounded in community. In humility. In the deep belief that every person has worth, and that our lives are profoundly interwoven. In this past year, we have been so grateful for your hope – and your help. Because, to move forward in service of our students, we need both. We need your generous spirit. We need your willingness to build bridges where others draw lines. In a time when loneliness and division are common, the Benedictine ethos we share – hospitality, listening, mutual respect – is not just a collection of nice ideas. It is revolutionary. These are bold ways of being what the world desperately needs. We live in a time when cynicism can feel like the default setting. When division can feel inevitable. But, with your generous giving last year, you demonstrated a different calling. You know a deeper truth – that our lives are not only about ourselves. They are about the ways we lift each other up, the ways we build a future that is better, bolder and more beautiful than that which we inherited. Thank you!

Brian J. Bruess, Ph.D. President, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University

Cover photo: Kaelin Cochran ’26 and Cecilia Odegard ’26 participate in classroom lab research.

Your Recent Giving <<Recent gift year>> – <<Recent gift>> <<Volunteer Commitment>> Thank you for your investment last year in the College of Saint Benedict! Our fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30 annually.

Learn the Impact of Your Giving ONLINE AT CSBSJU.EDU/CSBIMPACT Last year you were one of 3,820 who chose to make the path to a great education easier for today’s Bennies.

President’s Letter Dear <<Informal Salutation>>, Hope is a powerful attribute. It is not naive optimism. It is the steady, persistent belief that flourishing is always possible, even when the world feels uncertain or broken. Hope is action. Hope is listening. Hope is showing up. It’s also deeply Benedictine. It is grounded in community. In humility. In the deep belief that every person has worth, and that our lives are profoundly interwoven. In this past year, we have been so grateful for your hope – and your help. Because, to move forward in service of our students, we need both. We need your generous spirit. We need your willingness to build bridges where others draw lines. In a time when loneliness and division are common, the Benedictine ethos we share – hospitality, listening, mutual respect – is not just a collection of nice ideas. It is revolutionary. These are bold ways of being what the world desperately needs. We live in a time when cynicism can feel like the default setting. When division can feel inevitable. You know a deeper truth – that our lives are not only about ourselves. They are about the ways we lift each other up, the ways we build a future that is better, bolder and more beautiful than that which we inherited. Thank you!

Brian J. Bruess, Ph.D. President, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University

Cover photo: Kaelin Cochran ’26 and Cecilia Odegard ’26 participate in classroom lab research.

Learn the Impact of Philanthropy ONLINE AT CSBSJU.EDU/CSBIMPACT Last year 3,820 donors chose to make the path to a great education easier for today’s Bennies.

2025 Fiscal Year in Review

OPERATING GAINS, REVENUES AND OTHER SUPPORT Tuition & Fees

30,702,260

(net of discounts)

3 2

Auxiliary Private Gifts & Grants Net Investment Income Government Grants Other Sources Total:

17,754,143 3,523,297 6,080,147 1,636,762 931,345 60,627,954

2025

2024

Tuition & Fees

77,376,504

76,147,630

Less: Scholarships & Grants

(46,674,244)

(44,863,821)

Net Tuition & Fees

30,702,260

31,283,809

Government Grants Federal State

1,386,762 250,000

1,238,783 250,000

Private Gifts & Grants

3,523,297

3,465,518

Other Investment Income

897,591

1,007,225

Net Gains (Losses) on Investments

776,762

633,459

Long-Term Investment Income and Gains Allocated to Operations

4,405,794

4,186,871

Other Sources

931,345

751,009

Sales & Services of Auxiliary Enterprises Residence Halls Food Services Other Auxiliaries

8,412,633 7,140,458 2,201,052

8,220,630 6,724,145 2,173,536

Total Operating Gains, Revenues and Other Support

60,627,954

59,934,985

OPERATING EXPENSES 16

% 19 33

Instruction Auxiliary Institutional Support Student Services Academic Support Total:

22,433,134 13,177,807 14,039,316 10,808,146 7,732,914 68,191,317

2025

2024

Program Expenses Instruction Academic Support Student Services

22,433,134 7,732,914 10,808,146

23,040,678 7,315,651 10,189,152

Auxiliary Enterprises Residence Halls Food Services Other Auxiliaries

4,481,655 5,995,090 2,701,062

4,279,341 5,613,075 2,472,968

Support Expenses Institutional Support

14,039,316

12,522,558

Total Operating Expenses

68,191,317

65,433,423

Change in Net Assets from Operating Activities

(7,563,363)

(5,498,438)

Learn more about the impact of giving at Saint Ben’s in fiscal year 2025 at csbsju.edu/csbimpact.

Data is unaudited as of this report.

EMPOWERING EXPERIENCES

Transformative Power “This scholarship is a fitting tribute to her, as it reflects the values she lived by: kindness, curiosity and a commitment to making the world feel a little closer for everyone.” David Mayer, Mary K.’s husband

diversity in the student body. She took high school students to Germany and encouraged many more to participate in study abroad programs in their college years. She modeled for her students what it means to be a global citizen. Mary Kane Mayer ’63 was a teacher who “firmly believed in the transformative power of education,” says her daughter, Ann Mayer ’92. “She often likened herself to Carol Kennicott from Sinclair Lewis’s ‘Main Street,’ aspiring to broaden minds and inspire her students from rural Minnesota to pursue ambitions beyond their city limits.” She encouraged her students to pursue opportunities that would open their eyes to the world’s possibilities. She sponsored foreign exchange students to create

Today, Mary K.’s husband David Mayer and their daughter Ann honor her memory with the Mary Kane Mayer Global Scholarship, supporting access to global education and study abroad for Bennies. “Mary K. approached life with an open heart and a spirit of generosity that touched everyone she met,” says David. “This scholarship is a fitting tribute to her, as it reflects the values she lived by: kindness, curiosity and a commitment to making the world feel a little closer for everyone.”

AS A LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBER, YOU DON’T HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT HOW YOU’LL BE REMEMBERED. Your investment will live on through the careers and accomplishments of the Bennies whose journey was made possible through your gift. Thank you for your legacy, and for the unstoppable momentum created as beneficiaries of your gift go out into the world to inspire others. A planned gift never stops changing lives. Now that’s a legacy.

Contact Tara Maas Tessmer ’14, executive director of major and planned gifts, at tmaas@csbsju.edu or 320-363-5078 with any questions about your membership in the Legacy Society.

EMPOWERING EXPERIENCES

Planning Made Perfect Exploring the possibilities of planned giving to the College of Saint Benedict is easy. You can get started anytime, online. Our website makes it simple to get started with crucial steps like creating a will with help from FreeWill. You’ll learn about the power of gifts for the future. You’ll learn about gifts that can pay you back. And you can find out about tax-smart tools for making your contributions.

Visit our planned giving website using the QR code here, or go to givecsb.mygiftlegacy.org to learn more.

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS

Her Turn to Lead

The 2024 season was a little like reverse déjà vu for CSB volleyball setter Audrey Spolidoro ’25. When she first arrived on campus in fall 2021, she was part of a first-year class looking to lone senior Mary Wenisch for guidance. Last fall, as Spolidoro entered her fourth season as a starter, she found herself the sole senior on the Bennies’ roster – with a talented class of firstyear and sophomore players looking toward her. “I keep trying to remember what my experience was like as a first-year, and the way the older players treated me,” said Spolidoro at the time. “They

were so helpful when it came to helping me get adjusted. That’s the role I want to play as well.” Head coach Nicole Hess praised the way Spolidoro embraced her role as team leader. “We talk a lot with our seniors every year about what kind of legacy they want to leave,” Hess said. “It’s about giving back and setting the tone for how we expect our athletes to be.” In the end, Spolidoro’s tone setting helped a team that started out 3-9 turn their season around and make an electrifying run to win the MIAC Tournament Championship and earn a place in last year’s NCAA tournament.

SUPERCHARGE YOUR OWN CAREER

Development

Students and young alums respect the power of the legendary Bennie/Johnnie alum network. Today though, the strength of that network’s been supercharged – with career services management tools from our partners at 12Twenty. • The job board lets users search for personalized job recommendations. • The Bennie and Johnnie community is right at hand to help explore and research next professional moves. • Bennies and Johnnies on the path forward can get expert guidance and make meaningful mentor/mentee connections around the world.

HANDS-ON LEARNING

Paper Assignment flax previously grown at CSB, as well as old cotton clothing donated by the CSB and SJU community. Working in the Welle Book Arts Studio in the Benedicta Arts Center, she mixed the pulp with water and formed it into a mould and deckle before running it through a hydraulic press. Afterward, each sheet was left to dry for 24 to 72 hours, creating part of a batch of papers that will be used for a variety of official purposes at CSB and SJU. Dahl appreciated the intentional, handcrafted approach. “It’s not just paper we’re creating. It’s paper with a backstory unique to CSB and SJU.”

Laura Dahl ’27 didn’t know a lot about paper making. But the chance to spend summer 2025 creating a signature CSB+SJU paper using natural materials from the two campuses intrigued her. “Let’s give this a try and see where it goes,” she thought. Right away, Dahl was out in the Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum gathering big blue stem, a tall grass native to the prairie. She then combined it with

This summer was the second time this project has been undertaken. The first, nearly 15 years ago, resulted in paper that has been used for things like prints celebrating the completion of the Saint John’s Bible and Literary Arts Institute authors-in-residence.

Learn more about Laura and her paper-making adventures this past summer.

SUPERCHARGE YOUR OWN CAREER

Development

PATHWAYS TO DISTINCTION

Reflecting and Connecting Globally, Embrace Difference, Think Deeply, Serve Graciously and Live Courageously. “It gave me space to think about how my experiences – and not just my grades – have helped me grow,” said Jackeline Chavez ’25, part of the first cohort to complete a pathway. She chose the Engage Globally pathway, a natural fit for her passion for justice and intercultural learning. For Chavez, that included a semester studying abroad in Spain. It gave her a chance to explore justice and social systems in a new cultural context while also affirming her passion for nonprofit work. Unlike programs with set requirements, Pathways to Distinction is designed to honor the depth and intentionality of a student’s individual journey.

Some accomplishments don’t fit neatly on a transcript, but they shape who students become. At CSB+SJU, a new initiative is helping students celebrate that kind of growth. The Pathways to Distinction program lets participants earn recognition in one of five focused areas: Engage

Each pathway has specific criteria – such as coursework, service hours, public presentations or leadership roles – that help students intentionally connect their experiences inside and outside the classroom. Whether studying abroad, writing a thesis, mentoring peers or reflecting on identity and power, students complete their pathway with a richer sense of self and purpose.

SUPERCHARGE YOUR OWN CAREER

Development

ACADEMIC IMPACT

Mentorship and Advising

CSB+SJU Professor Mani Campos talks with students at an EPIC event. Photo courtesy of EPIC.

“The hardest stages of a student’s development here academically, professionally and personally come during their first and last years,” said Mani Campos, biology professor and advisor for pre-health students. “The first year is obvious. It’s such a big change coming to college and being on their own for the first time. They need a lot of mentorship. “But they also need it during their last year for different reasons,” he continued. “Many students toward the end of their college careers begin to change their minds about what their goals are. They’ve had experiences that cause them to start

questioning and reevaluating things. That’s what we want them to do, but it can be hard for students to have that uncertainty about what path they should take. That’s when it really helps to have mentors who can let them know this is a natural part of their progression.” Campos said helping students find their own path is the best part of his job. “Teaching can happen in many different settings,” he said. “It’s not just in the classroom. You can teach in a lab. You can teach as a coach on the athletic field. And you can teach as an advisor.”

SUPERCHARGE YOUR OWN CAREER

Development

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Common Values

Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s were founded on Benedictine values like community living, listening, peace and hospitality. In January 2025, a group of CSB and SJU students got the chance to demonstrate those values and experience them in return. The carefully selected cohort of 10 students was invited to travel to the United Arab Emirates to engage with the country’s Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, including time spent at two local universities, interacting with campus Tolerance Clubs. The trip became a 10-day search for common ground on foreign soil. “We were able to engage in some really powerful cultural exchanges,”

said Grace Dresser ’27, one of the students who made the trip. “At the end of the day, we shared some Benedictine values that we found intertwined with the topic of tolerance: things like community, moderation, respect for persons, stewardship and listening. And through it all, we just felt a tremendous spirit of hospitality.” Dresser also noted that “Tolerance and respect are two-way streets. When you apply this to personal relationships, it’s important to remember that we are ever-changing beings. Therefore, knowing one another is a continuous process. It’s that presence and being where your feet are that is so important to all communities.”

Give Them a Boost! The Alum Referral Scholarship is a powerful way for our graduates to shape the future of CSB and SJU. When Bennie alumnae recommend students, they’re not just supporting access – they’re extending the spirit of our community to the next generation. Each referral helps connect talented students with an education that transforms lives.

CSB+SJU ALUM REFERRAL SCHOLARSHIP $1,000/year (renewable for four years, totaling $4,000) based on reference from a Bennie or Johnnie alum. Visit csbsju.edu/refer to learn more and get started.

CELEBRATING THE

O’Connell Society Thank You, Your support of scholarships at Saint Ben’s leads the way in the tradition of S. Colman O’Connell. Last year we once again had strong support from a number of donors like you – giving at the $10,000 level or higher to the College of Saint Benedict’s annual giving program. Did you know your $10,000 O’Connell Society gift could go toward creating a named annual scholarship? You can create a scholarship and specify certain broad preferences that matter to you for the recipients of your philanthropy. And you can do it for as little as $2,500 (or as much as $10,000 or more), with at least a three-year commitment.

• Anonymous (2) • Gretchen Agee • Corie and Marty Barry • Charlene Bauer • LeAnn Bauer-Staiger and Michael Staiger • Helga and Rick Bauerly • Shelly Bauerly Kopel and Scott Kopel • Miles and Lisa Beacom • Jodi and Mike Berndt • Barb and Chuck Brandes • Becky and Chris Coborn • Elizabeth Conrad • Anne Terrahe Creo • Carol and Kim Culp • Megan and Joe Deignan • Bruce Dickau • Terry+ and Susan Dolan •M ary Dombovy and John Weymann • John and Sheila Folkestad • Liz Hayden and Charles Flinn • Dori Helmer • Kathy and Jim Henderson • John and Sharon Hite

• Gary and Celine Horn • Mary Leopold and Larry Balfanz • John and Mary Lindstrom • Colleen and Mike Malone • Katy and Brian McGrane • Bennett and Sharon Morgan • Lee and Vicki Morgan • Joe Mucha • Lynn and Anders Myhran • Bob and Joanne Neis • Joe Nemmers and Kathy Reinke Nemmers • Dick Nigon • Betty Nilles+ • Ron Pagnucco • Peg and Greg Palen • Heather Pieper-Olson and Todd Pieper • Pamela Pletcher and Bob French • Dick+ and Sandy Pope • Mike and Mary Richie • Sharon and Jim Ridgeway • Dave and Susan Roberts • Carol and Steven Schleif

• Tom and Joyce Schlough • Anne Schmidt-Krump and Paul Krump • Bill and Joyce Sexton • Jennifer Sexton-Ornburg • John and Linda Shields • Janelle and Tom Sloan • Theresa Smith and Mark Danielson • Gregory Soukup and MJ Carr • Joyce Statz and David Hogan • LeAnne and John Stewart • David and Joleen Sylvester • Barb Torborg Melsen and Greg Melsen • Rosanne Uschold+ • Sue Lynch Vento • Cindy and Kurt Wachtler • Dan and Katharine Whalen • Lois Schrantz Welshons • Margie and John Wiehoff • Jean Withrow and James Haggerty + Deceased

Named after the late S. Colman O’Connell ’49, CSB President Emerita, the O’Connell Society is part of the College of Saint Benedict’s Presidents’ Circle.

Questions about your membership in the O’Connell Society? Contact Tara Maas Tessmer ’14, executive director of major and planned gifts, at tmaas@csbsju.edu or 320-363-5078.

SHARE WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY Successful, experienced and even retired alums have been a valuable part of the legendary Bennie/Johnnie alum network throughout their careers. Today there’s a valuable new role to play, because the strength of that network has been supercharged with career services management tools from our partners at 12Twenty. As an alum, even if you’re not looking for your next career step, your experience and insight can still serve Bennie and Johnnie students and alums. Your guidance can help create meaningful mentor/mentee connections with Bennies and Johnnies around the world.

WHAT’S 12TWENTY? It’s a user-friendly, web-based (no app) platform that’s designed to support career and professional development for Bennie and Johnnie alums – at no cost.

Learn more, explore the possibilities and get started!

CELEBRATING THE

O’Connell Society During fiscal year 2025, 59 households enjoyed membership in the O’Connell Society – giving at the $10,000 level or higher to the College of Saint Benedict’s annual giving program. We’re both excited and grateful about that. Are you ready to consider joining them? Members of the O’Connell Society will continue to celebrate the legacy of S. Colman O’Connell ’49, OSB – a true champion of this college. The annual giving program is a critical tool in providing scholarships to make a Saint Ben’s education available to young women of intelligence and ambition who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

Named after the late S. Colman O’Connell ’49, CSB President Emerita, the O’Connell Society is part of the College of Saint Benedict’s Presidents’ Circle.

Questions about your membership in the O’Connell Society? Contact Tara Maas Tessmer ’14, executive director of major and planned gifts, at tmaas@csbsju.edu or 320-363-5078.

WHAT’S 12TWENTY? It’s a user-friendly, web-based (no app) platform that’s designed to support career and professional development for Bennie and Johnnie alums – at no cost.

Learn more, explore the possibilities and get started!

CELEBRATING THE

Presidents’ Circle Thank You, Your contributions set the standard in fiscal year 2025. Members of the Presidents’ Circle contribute at the $1,500 level or above to the annual giving program at Saint Ben’s. Young Alumnae President’s Circle members generously increase their donations over time, reflecting their years since graduation. Both groups significantly contributed to making fiscal year 2025 a standout year for annual giving at the College of Saint Benedict. Together, we create the momentum that nurtures the potential of today’s Bennies: educated, empowered women rooted in the liberal arts and the values of Benedictine tradition, equipped with the courage to make a difference in the world. Your generous support makes this mission possible.

IN OUR 2025 FISCAL YEAR, THERE WERE …

39 65 327 MEMBERS

MEMBERS

Young Alumnae President’s Circle

O’Connell Society (Presidents’ Circle members giving $10,000 or more)

Presidents’ Circle

Questions about giving to Saint Ben’s? Contact Maggie Weber Utsch ’00, director of annual giving, at mutsch@csbsju.edu or 320-363-5932.

WHAT’S 12TWENTY? It’s a user-friendly, web-based (no app) platform that’s designed to support career and professional development for Bennie and Johnnie alums – at no cost.

Learn more, explore the possibilities and get started!

TOGETHER WE

Make a Difference YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE Your support helps make a Saint Ben’s education achievable for countless students. For over 110 years, we have built a legacy of empowering remarkable women. Today, that momentum continues to grow, thanks to you. You played a crucial role in ensuring fiscal year 2025 was another outstanding year for annual giving at the College of Saint Benedict. But the need remains great. Your continuing generosity can help our students thrive, creating opportunities and empowering future Bennies to shine even brighter. Your gift today makes a lasting impact on their journey.

FISCAL YEAR 2025 WAS A YEAR TO REMEMBER TOTAL GIFTS AND PLEDGES

21.5 million 95% $ 669,640

STUDENTS IMPACTED BY SCHOLARSHIP GIVING

RAISED IN ONE 24-HOUR PERIOD ON GIVE CSB DAY

Questions about giving to Saint Ben’s? Contact Maggie Weber Utsch ’00, director of annual giving, at mutsch@csbsju.edu or 320-363-5932.

WHAT’S 12TWENTY? It’s a user-friendly, web-based (no app) platform that’s designed to support career and professional development for Bennie and Johnnie alums – at no cost.

Learn more, explore the possibilities and get started!

"I'm here to tell you that you have great power - the power to navigate and thrive in a complicated and fast-changing world. So what are you going to use that power for?"

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the College of Saint Benedict held our 110th commencement ceremony. On that day, 355 Bennies earned bachelor’s degrees, three earned master’s degrees and 11 received their Doctor of Nursing Practice. Angela Untiedt Jerabek ’90, the pioneering developer of the BARR Model in education, sent them into the world with one great question:

How Will You Use Your Power?

This Mission Impact Report was created especially for you. We appreciate your generosity.

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