April 18, 2025
Seed Coalition 2025 Annual Awards
On Friday, April 11, The College of St. Scholastica celebrated significant achievements at the Seed Coalition’s annual award ceremony held at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. The College’s Owen Erickson and the Alworth Center for the Study of Peace and Justice received awards for their commitment to civic engagement and community partnership. Additionally, the longstanding collaboration between St. Scholastica and Essentia Health was honored.
Owen Erickson
Psychology and Educational Studies double major Owen Erickson ’26 received the Student Leadership Award. This award “recognizes a student or student organization that models a commitment to civic responsibility and leadership.”
Owen is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Educational Studies with a minor in Organizational Leadership, maintaining an impressive 4.0 GPA. Owen’s involvement in various student organizations and committees showcases his commitment to leadership and community engagement. He serves as a Student Trustee on the College’s board, and he is active in the Student Government Association. His roles as an Event Coordinator for Student Activities and a Campus Ambassador further highlight his dedication to fostering a sense of community and belonging among his peers. Most recently, Owen was 1 of 30 students in the United States selected to attend a national Future Leaders Summit offered by the Council for Opportunity in Education.
Alworth Center for the Study of Peace and Justice
The College’s Alworth Center for the Study of Peace and Justice was awarded the Civic Engagement Leadership Award, which “recognizes a faculty or staff member that has advanced their campus’ civic mission by forming strong partnerships and supporting others’ civic and community engagement.”
The Alworth Center for the Study of Peace and Justice seeks to bridge social and political barriers to bring people of all ages and philosophies together to work toward the common goals of peace and justice. Although the Center was endowed decades ago, Karen (’82) and Royal Alworth continue to be involved today. Karen said, “The Alworth Center for the Study of Peace and Justice has had great success under Dr. Tom Morgan’s leadership,” and it is now led by Dr. Tim Lorek. The Alworth Series is guided by an advisory board comprised of faculty, staff, alumni and community members who inform the work of the Peace and Justice Center and shape the programming and themes, as well as provide broader connections.”
Essentia Health
The partnership of St. Scholastica and Essentia Health has been honored with the Community Partner Award. This award “recognizes a person or organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community and engaged in the development of reciprocal partnerships with the college or university.”
Essentia Health has worked for many years in partnership with CSS to address the nursing workforce challenges on behalf of the patients in northeast Minnesota and support future health science professionals. Our shared Benedictine roots and shared values give us a unique commitment to our community. This collaboration is a testament to the visionary work of the Benedictine Sisters, who established both the College and St. Hospital in Duluth in the late 19th century with a profound dedication to nurturing health care professionals. Leadership from both institutions has played pivotal roles in successfully achieving this funding and supporting educational programming and are recognized for their outstanding contributions to nursing education.
