Celebrating Award-Winning Saints

Jul 11, 2025

Siena's Franciscan values are lived seven days a week, but they're especially celebrated on Fridays.

Siena reignited its Franciscan Fridays campaign at the start of the 2024-25 academic year. Each month, a different value was highlighted, and each Friday, a different community member(s) was celebrated for an action that embodies or animates that value. In all, 24 Saints were recognized this past year and each received a special token in acknowledgement of their unique and Franciscan contributions to the community. They also received a special invitation to lunch.

On June 25, President Seifert and his wife, Deb, invited all Franciscan Fridays honorees over to their house for lunch, catered by Siena Fresh, as appreciation for the varied and infectious ways they inject the foundational values of Siena into everything they do.

"The luncheon was wonderful," said John Raymond, assistant librarian. "Chuck invited us inside to cool off where we ate and enjoyed cordial conversation. As the first librarian to receive a Franciscan honor for innovation, I am humbled and thankful that Siena recognizes the amazing work that the library does to support our students and community. Our achievement would not have been possible without the support of our excellent Interlibrary Loan Manager Sarah Symans."

Check out the complete list of 2024-25 Franciscan Fridays honorees.

"It was so generous of the Seiferts to share their home with us," said Susan Ambrose, associate director for international programs. "Winning the award was unexpected but being a Franciscan Fridays honoree made me and my colleagues' work feel validated and important. We put in so much effort into supporting our international student population through quite challenging times, so a nice lunch with colleagues felt special. Also, props to AVI for those potato chips!"

"It was very kind of the Seiferts to invite us into their home, and it was most enjoyable to talk with them and fellow colleagues over a nice lunch," said Cheryl Voter, assistant director for the Center for Academic Community Engagement. "I was very thankful for receiving this recognition!"

Franciscan Fridays will return this fall. Be on the lookout for a call for nominations, and be sure to nominate a colleague that you believe enriches the Siena community by living the Franciscan values.

“In my work with students, I strive to help them recognize how their college experience — especially through social connectedness and service to others — reflects the Franciscan tradition that is the very foundation of Siena. I believe that bringing both attention and intention to these values helps students cultivate a sense of belonging that enhances their overall well-being. Being recognized for these efforts by colleagues is deeply humbling, and I’m grateful to be part of a community so committed to living out these ideals.”

Tom Templeton, co-winner of the St. Francis of Assisi award

Five community members were recognized at the Employee Recognition Luncheon on June 18 as winners of the prestigious Employee Recognition Awards.

From nearly 50 nominations, an awards committee of staff and administrators from departments across campus cast their ballots. The finalists were recognized in the Daily Digest and in the luncheon program. The winners were announced during the ceremony:

Saint of the Year
Dan Happ, lead reprographic technician

Innovator of the Year
Deb Pasquarella, assistant director of The MacDonnell Career and Internship Center

St. Francis of Assisi Award (co-winners)
April Backus, director of academic programs and events
Tom Templeton, associate director of the counseling center (above)

Founding Friars Award
Kris Kolonko, instrumentation center director