College of Arts and Sciences
Alumni Merit Awards
Congratulations to the College of Arts & Sciences
2010 Alumni Merit Award recipients:
- Dr. Calvin Burnett
Class of 1959, BA Political Science
Class of 1963, Ph.D. Health
Organization Research
The deadline for the 2010-11 nominations is December 31, 2010.
To nominate a candidate, please fill out an electronic
form here, or print form out with corresponding material and
mail to:
The Office of Alumni Relations
attn: Michelle Hyde
221 N. Grand Blvd
DuBourg Hall
St. Louis, MO 63103
For any questions relating to the merit award, please contact Michelle
Hyde at mhyde4@slu.edu
or via phone at 314-977-5530.
2010 Alumni Merit Award Recipients
Mary Bowe
Class of 1968, BA in Sociology
After graduation from SLU, Mary Bowe answered the call to serving
others. She trained at the American Red Cross HQ in Washington,
D.C. and moved to Vietnam as a clubmobile worker at the height of
the Vietnam war where she provided support to American troops, helped
the native Montenyard Tribe with irrigation and visited orphanages
throughout Vietnam. During Mary’s last 4 months in Vietnam,
in addition to her daytime work, she was a radio DJ for the troops,
playing musical requests.
Mary’s service to those in need did not end after her tour
abroad. After returning to the states, Mary taught for 29 years
at an inner city, low income area grammar school and continues to
mentor and substitute teach at the school. She is a lifetime member
of the PTA and even dresses up like the Cat in the Hat every year
on Dr. Seuss’ birthday for the children in the school district.
For the last 20 years at the Knox Elementary School, Mary organized
a Veteran’s day program to continue the ideals of American
pride where local veterans are invited to speak and children read
essays on America and Freedom.
Mary is a trained Guadalupe County Master Gardner and started a
Gardening program at Knox elementary school to teach the children
about vegetables. She also was instrumental in founding a community
garden in Schertz, TX, where the harvest will go to Meals on Wheels,
Senior Citizens, and others in need in the area. She is a published
poet, has been featured in a documentary film, and has received
many educational awards. For her time in Vietnam she earned a Medal
of Civilian Service, two certificates of achievement and a Letter
of Commendation.
Dr. Calvin Burnett
Class of 1959, BA Political Science
Class of 1963, Ph.D. Health Organization Research
Dr. Calvin Burnett left his mark on SLU as the first African-American
athlete to play basketball for the Billikens. This was just the
beginning of his trailblazing career beyond the borders of Saint
Louis University.
Dr. Burnett began his career as a research social psychologist
at St. Louis State Hospital and taught at the Catholic University
of America and at Southern Illinois University. The majority of
his career was spent serving as the President of Coppin State College
for 33 years and was designated as President Emeritus 2003. In 2004,
Dr. Burnett was appointed Secretary of Higher Education for the
State of Maryland.
Though he is now retired, Dr. Burnett continues to give back to
the educational community. He has served on many educational boards,
including but not limited to the Governor’s commission on
quality education in Maryland, State Planning Committee for Higher
Education, Segmental Advisory Council, Governor’s Executive
Council, K-16 Partnership Leadership Council, Co-Chair Community
College Students with Disabilities Task Force, and the Task Force
to Convene a Summit on Civic Literacy in Maryland. He is a former
board member of Baltimore Urban League, Gilman School, and McDonogh
School.
Peter J. Kenny
Class of 1962, BS Math
Peter Kenny comes from an Irish immigrant family. When he was 8
years old his parents came to the United States, wanting their four
children to have the life opportunities and education they themselves
had not known. His Irish heritage has remained very important to
him: he has a strong interest in Irish history, music, and in the
Irish language.
Most of Peter’s working life was spent as a software engineer
at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. He worked with NASA
scientists to develop and test many astronomical instruments, wrote
flight software, and helped analyze the resulting data. Among those
projects were the Hubble Space Telescope, the Cosmic Background
Explorer (COBE, which studied the radiation left over from the “Big
Bang”), and various satellite, rocket and balloon flight missions.
Now retired from the civil service, he continues to work part-time
in developing new instruments at NASA-Goddard.
In addition to his contributions to the scientific community, Peter
tries to embody the spirit of the Jesuit mission. He is an active
volunteer for the “Gift of Peace” home (established
by Mother Teresa) in Washington DC, driving patients to their medical
appointments, delivering donated food, etc. He also helps out with
“Meals on Wheels”, and is active in the St. Vincent
de Paul Society of his parish. He also enjoys volunteering at a
wetlands sanctuary (leading canoe trips).
Peter appreciates Saint Louis University for the fine liberal education
he acquired. He is particularly grateful to the Honors program (founded
and led by the late Fr. Maurice McNamee, SJ) for helping to prepare
a young person who was already an incurable bookworm for a lifetime
of serious reading.
Dr. Carol Martin, ED.D.
Class of 1965, Political Science
For the last 40 years, Dr. Carol Martin has proven herself to be
a true beacon of service to the under-educated youth and adults
in Africa. While her accomplishments are countless, countries of
long term work include Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, Zaire/Congo, Ethiopia,
South Africa, and Afghanistan. Countries that have benefited from
Dr. Martin’s work visits include Senegal, Togo, Ivory Coast,
Ghana, Burkina Faso, North and South Sudan, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, Swaziland,
Namibia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Eritrea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia,
and the USA.
Dr. Martin has served as: a teacher-trainer with Ministries of
Education in Botswana, Kenya, and Nigeria; a Project Designer for
several USAID programs; a Planner for Bauchi State Ministry of Education
in Nigeria; an NGO Staff Trainer, an Associate Peace Corps Director
in Zaire/Congo, a UNICEF Project Officer of Education in Ethiopia,
an Independent Contractor and a Program Director for Swedish Committee
for Afghanistan, Kabul. On a regular basis, Dr. Martin worked closely
at high levels with African policy and decision makers, coordinated
donor assistance to education and training programs, and served
in leadership positions. She has been a Board Member of many organizations
including South African Institute of International Affairs, South
African Association for Jazz Education and Chair person for a Cape
Town-based youth Jazz Music Project. Dr. Martin earned her Doctorate
of Education in 1981 from the University of Massachusetts.
Sister Antoinette Temporiti, C.PP.S.
Class of 1972, BA in Math and Theology
Class of 1977, MA in Religious Studies
Class of 1997, Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy
Since 1988, Sr. Toni has worked as a psychotherapist in private
practice in a nonprofit group, Centers for Professional and Pastoral
Services. She specializes in working with college age students,
young adults, and families. She received her MSW from Washington
University in 1988. More recently, Sr. Toni’s mission work
has taken on a more global scope. In 2003-04, Sr. Toni spent a sabbatical
in Africa, traveling overland by truck through 18 countries. She
and her companions camped out every night and prepared meals over
an open fire.
Stories told by the native women who gathered around these fires
inspired Sr. Toni with hope. Back in St. Louis, one day she realized
the amount of money she had just spent on lunch could be used as
a loan for African women in extreme poverty. From that moment, MPA
was born.
The non-profit MPA (Microfinancing Partners in Africa), provides
grants to strengthen or start microfinancing programs for those
living in extreme poverty in Africa. Giving access to financial
services and education, the programs empower the poor to lift themselves
out of poverty with dignity. Under Sr. Toni’s leadership,
MPA raised $100K in 2008 and $200K in 2009 for these programs. The
organization continues to thrive today.
Sr. Toni has been a member of the Sisters of the Most Precious
Blood of O’Fallon, MO, for over 35 years, is on the board
of Partnership for Global Justice at the U.N., and is the chair
of the U.N.’s Non Governmental Organization committee for
her religious congregation.
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