January 2, 2013 Political Science Professor Honored with Maria Pieta Award The Maria Pieta Award was established in 1976 in honor of Sister Maria Pieta, CSC, who was a teacher and an administrator at Saint Mary’s College. The award recognizes the quality of teaching done in courses for freshmen and sophomores. The recipient of this year’s award is Professor Patrick Pierce, Chair of the Department of Political Science. January 2, 2013 Sister Olivette Whalen, CSC Award for General Service The Sister Olivette Whalen, CSC Award for General Service is awarded each year to a Saint Mary’s student who has served the College and the community in multifaceted ways. I’m very pleased to introduce this year’s winner, Haley Van Der Linden '13. During the spring 2012 semester, Haley worked with St. Margaret’s House, a day center in downtown South Bend that provides a safe and caring community for women. Despite being limited by a serious knee injury, Haley was committed to working for St. Margaret’s from campus for the first part of the semester; in the second part of the semester, Haley had the opportunity to serve the women at the Center in a variety of ways, including preparing and sharing meals and conversations with the guests. January 2, 2013 Schneider Named MIAA Player of the Week ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Saint Mary’s outside hitter Kati Schneider its Player of the Week in volleyball for matches played through September 15. January 2, 2013 South Bend Chamber Singers Auditions The South Bend Chamber Singers (SBCS), the region’s premier vocal chamber ensemble, announces auditions for experienced singers from northern Indiana and southern Michigan for its 25th concert series, 2013-14. January 2, 2013 Belles Prevail in New York NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Saint Mary's volleyball team picked up a pair of non-conference wins in the Big Apple with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-17) victory over Montclair State and a 3-1 (25-15, 25-21, 23-25, 25-15) decision over host Hunter. January 2, 2013 Sister Christine Healy, CSC Award for Service with Women The Sister Christine Healy Award is given to a Saint Mary’s student for exemplary service working with women. I am proud to award this year’s winner, Olivia Pahl '13. Olivia is dedicated to addressing the issues of violence and abuse. As an active member of the Belles Against Violence Office Student Advisory Committee, Olivia has taken strong leadership roles among her peers. While she is always willing to dedicate her time and energy to logistical tasks, she has the capacity to create a unique vision and bring her vision into a reality. January 2, 2013 Study Finds "It's Hard Being A Girl in Indiana" (Indianapolis Star) Girls have it rough in Indiana, compared to boys here and their peers in other states, a new report released this morning concludes. The Status of Girls in Indiana, prepared by Saint Mary’s College, is thought to be the first-ever look at the health and well-being of Hoosier girls. And in many areas, girls lag. “It is my hope that our faculty and students may have sown the seeds for improvement in the lives of girls in Indiana,” said Carol Mooney, president of Saint Mary’s, a Catholic all-women’s school, at a news conference in Indianapolis unveiling the report. January 2, 2013 Bridging Cultures Through Community Service (South Bend Tribune) For the second summer in a row, Saint Mary's College has connected the global community with South Bend’s local needs in a unique way. This year Saint Mary’s hosted 19 undergraduate women leaders from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya and Tunisia for a five-week U.S. Department of State sponsored program. The program not only offered global interaction for faculty and students, but also for several service organizations in South Bend. January 2, 2013 Accounting Professor Shares Tips for Taxes (WSBT-TV) John Cergnul, assistant professor of accounting, appeared on WSBT-TV's Saturday morning show with tips for tax season. He shared information on the Notre Dame/Saint Mary’s Tax Assistance Program, where students volunteer to help low-income residents with their tax returns. He also talked about the growing problem with identity theft and taxes, where people file fake returns with stolen Social Security numbers and pocket the money the IRS sends back.