Junior Yaqi Song ’17 Honored with Saint Catherine’s Medal
May 4, 2016 (Notre Dame, Ind.)— When Yaqi Song ’17 attended Honors Convocation on Sunday, May 1, the junior art major had no idea that she would be recognized at the event, which celebrates graduating seniors.
Song, an international student from Chengdu, China, received the Saint Catherine Medal, an award recognizing a sophomore or junior who demonstrates high standards of personal excellence and scholarship and contributes to the College community in the spirit of Christian leadership. The award commemorates Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of scholars (especially women scholars). Kappa Gamma Pi, the National Catholic Honor Society, sponsors the award.
“She has a deep sense of responsibility and sets very high standards for everything that she does. She embraces new experiences as chances to learn and grow. Being an art major requires not just talent but significant amounts of time, nevertheless this student found the time to be one of the founders of the neuroscience club,” among other accomplishments, the citation states.
Song also enjoys sharing her culture while learning about other cultures. Her interest in the arts includes music, and she is proficient at playing the guzheng , a plucked string instrument. She not only performs at China Night, held annually at the College, but she has plays a key role in organizing it.
Students, faculty and staff nominate candidates for the Saint Catherine Medal and the Academic Affairs Council makes the final selection. The recipient of the award is kept secret until Honors Convocation.
About Saint Mary's College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. Saint Mary’s College also offers two graduate degrees: a Master of Science and a Doctorate. All programs that fall under these degrees are co-educational and include a Master of Science in Data Science, a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College seeks, according to its mission statement, to educate students, develop their talents, and prepare them to make a difference in the world. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2016 published by U.S. News & World Report. Follow Saint Mary's College on Twitter @saintmarys and @saintmarysnews.
Contact for News Media: Gwen O'Brien, director of integrated communications, Saint Mary's College, gobrien@saintmarys.edu (574) 284-4579.