Ivy Muñoz
The Lumen Christi Award
May 16, 2026
Lumen Christi means “Light of Christ” in Latin. The Lumen Christi Award is the highest student honor at Saint Mary’s College. It honors a graduating student who exemplifies, in word and deed, the mission of the College through faith, leadership, and lasting impact on the community.
This year’s honoree was the only student to receive nominations from students, staff, and faculty. The Political Science faculty submitted a nomination together as a department.
This student often returns to Proverbs: “Iron is sharpened by iron; one person sharpens another.” That verse helps explain the effect she has had on this community. She shows up. She remembers. She supports. She follows through.
Faith is part of her daily life. She participates in programs through the Center for Faith, Action, and Ministry. She is a graduate of the Ministry for Social Transformation program and a regular volunteer at two local community organizations, Our Lady of the Road and For the Good. She has built close relationships with Sisters of the Holy Cross and often speaks about the example of faith she witnessed in her grandmother.
As a student coordinator for the SUSI program on Global Women’s Leadership, she helped guide participants from five countries in the Middle East and North Africa and worked to help participants feel welcomed and supported during their time in the United States. The faculty described her as someone who remained steady under pressure and strengthened the program through her maturity and care for others.
Throughout her time at Saint Mary’s, she has helped to strengthen the community through a generous and dependable style of leadership grounded in responsibility for others. She has served as President of the Student Government Association and previously as Director of External Affairs and Mission Representative for SGA. She has also held leadership roles in Feminists United and Belles Without Borders.
Again and again, people described her as someone who makes room for others, listens carefully, and takes people seriously. She consistently tries to ensure that no one is left out from any good thing.
For the depth of her contribution to the life of Saint Mary’s and the lasting impact she has made on this community, it is my honor to present the 2026 Lumen Christi Award to Ivy Muñoz.