The Joliet Diocesan Council of Catholic Women 2018 Awards Night was celebrated on Monday, May 21, with a Mass and reception at the Blanchette Catholic Center in Crest Hill to honor the 2018 recipients of the Bishop Blanchette Scholarships and the Father John Sebahar Servant Leadership Award.
The Bishop Blanchette Scholarship was established in 1982 as a living memorial to honor the late Bishop Romeo Blanchette. It is completely supported by donations. The scholarships are made available to students who will be attending Catholic high schools in the Joliet Diocese. They are nominated by the CCW of their parish. Scholarship awards are made on the basis of financial need, parish service, recommendations from pastors and educators and scholastic achievement as well as a statement from the candidate in which they express their reasons for wanting a Catholic education. The scholarship fund is maintained and monitored by the current and past presidents of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. Since its establishment, more than $445,000 in scholarships has been awarded.
At the 2016 Joliet Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Biennial Convention the Father John Sebahar Servant Leadership Award was established as a tribute of gratitude to Father Sebahar for his many years of spiritual guidance and support to the council. The award is presented annually to two high school seniors (boys or girls) planning to attend a college or university the following fall. Students who have outstanding Christian service to their parish community throughout their high school years are nominated by a religious education director or youth minister from any parish in the Joliet Diocese. This award is coordinated by JDCCW president, Cathy Salata, and Deb Drager.
2018 Award winners include the following:
Bishop Blanchette Scholarships:
Krista Birutis, Holy Trinity, Westmont
Ruby Dawson, St. Pius X, Lombard
Maria Fernandez, St. John Paul II, Kankakee
Alan Nguyen, St. Andrew the Apostle, Romeoville
Allen Nilson, Christ the King, Lombard
Liliana Suarez, Immaculate Conception, Elmhurst
Father John Sebahar Servant Leadership Award:
Catherine Miller, St. Isidore, Bloomingdale
Amanda Mohler, St. Francis Xavier, Joliet
