CONNELL SERVICE AWARD

ST . M A R Y ’S WILLIAMF. CONNELL ’ 55SERVICE A W ARDS

The William F. Connell ’55 Service Awards are presented at St. Mary’s as recognition of consistent and exemplary service. St. Mary’s 2021 Connell Service Award was presented to St. Mary’s School Nurse Lisa Morin-Plante P’07’07’15 during the Junior Commissioning Ceremony on June 1, 2021. Lisa has been instrumental in bringing service-oriented work to St. Mary’s students. When Lisa began at St. Mary’s in 2005, she introduced Rachel’s Challenge to the school community. Now, Rachel’s Challenge is in its 16th year at St. Mary’s. Lisa says, “Not only do we share our talent and treasure with others, we are built on kindness and compassion.” Some of the service projects that have been done over the past 16 years include: providing Police and Firemen dinners and breakfasts, collecting "Box of Joy," where small items are gathered and sent globally to children in need, make sandwiches for My Brother’s Table monthly, partner with the GE Fairy Godmother Project, participate in Wear Red for Beds, crafts for the Bridge House, Adopt a Grandparent, ARC Annual Christmas volunteers, and more. After every snowstorm, students even shovel out fire hydrants that they have adopted in their hometowns. All this is thanks to Lisa’s serviceoriented leadership. “It warms my heart that we are leaders and so many join in to carry the mission of kindness and compassion in our school community, city, and world. I receive calls all year from people that are alumni or know our mission and want to help.” Student recipients for the 2021 Connell Service Award were Christopher Coco Jr., Kiara LoNigro, Caroline Nerich and Madison Spencer, all members of the Class of 2022. The Connell Service Awards aim to introduce a higher level of awareness for the value of service to our students. It is our hope that they will learn how it is woven into the mission of St. Mary’s, and into the charism of who we are as a community of faith that supports others.

— William F. Connell ’55