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Outstanding individuals
honored at Founder’s Day
and commencement
Meissner, Pellegrini, Meagher lauded
for dedication, excellence
The Saint Mary’s University
Founder’s Day ceremonies —
the annual celebration of the founding
of the university in 1912 by
Bishop Patrick
R. Heffron —
were highlighted
by the
presentation of
special honors
given to a longtime
teacher in
the graduate
programs, the
Anne Meissner, Ph.D. associate dean
of admission,
and outstanding
male and female senior students.
Anne Meissner, Ph.D., received
an honorary Doctor of Education in
Leadership degree in recognition of
her distinguished career as a professional
counselor and psychologist,
and her work since 1979 with the
Counseling and Psychological Services
and Human Development
graduate programs at the SMU Twin
Cities Campus. Meissner earned a
Ph.D. in Counseling from the University
of Wisconsin in 1965. She is a
Licensed Consulting Psychologist,
and founded the Gestalt Institute of
the Twin Cities in 1983. She was
director of the Institute until 1991.
Ken Pellegrini, associate dean
for admission, received the Bishop
Heffron Award for long and meritorious
service to the university. Pellegrini,
a 1972 Saint Mary’s graduate,
recruited students from the greater
Twin Cities area from 1972-77, and
again from
1979-present.
He also worked
with Southeastern
Minnesota
and Chicagoarea
students.
Ken was cited
for his dedication
to Saint Ken Pellegrini
Mary’s, and for
his personal
attention to the welfare of students
before, during and after their college
years.
The Outstanding Female Senior
Award was given to Sarah Bayer of
Appleton, Wis. The daughter of
David and Mary Ann Bayer, Sarah
was a biology major with a wide
range of interests. She was an excellent
student who was active in Habitat
for Humanity, Lasallian
Collegians, Biology Club, Women of
SMU, Percussion Ensemble, Liturgical
Choir, University Ministry mission
trips and retreats, and the
Biology Honor Society. She also
served as a residence hall advisor.
The Outstanding Male Senior
Award was given to Corey Sievers of
Woodbury, Minn. The son of Rich
and Diane Sievers, Corey was a
Dean’s List pre-med biology major.
He was a member of the Biology
Honor Society and the biology,
physics and chemistry clubs, vice
president of the senior class, and cochair
of the Lasallian Honors Council.
He was coordinator of
BUDDIES (working with developmentally
disabled people in
Winona), and active in University
Ministry’s mission trips, confirmation
retreats for local parishes, Lasallian
Collegians, Habitat for Humanity
and St. Anne Hospice.
Other finalists for the outstanding
female senior were Allison
Loecke, New Lenox, Ill.; Sara
Schachtner, Somerset,Wis.; Stacey Jo
Skala, Owatonna, Minn.; and Teisha
Smith, Elma, Iowa.
Other finalists for the outstanding
male senior were Rodney Brickl,
Sauk City,Wis.;Anthony Holter, Red
Wing, Minn.; Matthew Palkert, Fridley,
Minn.; and Anthony Piscitiello,
Winona, Minn.
Sarah Bayer
Corey Sievers
6 SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE