ALIVE Team wins ASACCU award for mission integration project

From St. Norbert College, April 24, 2012
by Chris Swietlik, chris.swietlik@snc.edu, (920) 403-3089

The St. Norbert College ALIVE Team program was announced as a winner of the inaugural Association for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities' (ASACCU) Mission Integration Project. The ALIVE Team, overseen by Rebecca Welch, assistant director of faith, learning and vocation at St. Norbert College, won in the Residence Life category. Welch's work with the ALIVE Team will be recognized at the ASACCU Annual Conference, July 24-27, hosted by the University of Notre Dame. She will present highlights of the ALIVE Team's work at the ASACCU Annual Business meeting on July 26 and at a conference workshop.

The ALIVE Team is comprised of a diverse group of students who work as peer ministers within residence halls to build community on campus and within the local area, provide places to consider questions of meaning and calling and support students in exploring their faith and spirituality. The ALIVE Team presents: weekly discussion groups, small-group prayer, social events, service opportunities, reflections and meditations, a relaxing environment and a place to make new friends.

This year's ALIVE Team members include:

Alisa Christensen (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Bryanna Gauger (Wadsworth, Ill.)
Danny Haggerty (Skokie, Ill.)
Sarah Haggerty (Skokie, Ill.)
Katie Jensen (Appleton, Wis.)
Alex Kaminski (Greenville, Wis.)
Brianna Klink (Appleton, Wis.)
Janelle Krummen (Lodi, Wis.)
Garrett Leitermann (Rothschild, Wis.)
Kaitlyn Miller (Glen Ellyn, Ill.)
Megan Scapin (Batavia, Ill.)
Katie Sixel (Kiel, Wis.)
Jennifer Sorensen (Menomonee, Mich.)
Sarah St. John (Rockford, Ill.)
Katie Summers (Kaukauna, Wis.)
Chaz Topacio (St. Charles, Ill.)
Sean Topacio (St. Charles, Ill.)
Elizabeth Van Sistine (Hilbert, Wis.)

The Mission Integration Project is intended to highlight model practice programs in various student life areas, which intentionally articulate Catholic identity as an integral part of a student life program. Through the mutual sharing of ideas and their practical applications, ASACCU aims to foster dialogue to deepen member's understanding of the interplay between Catholic identity and the ever-changing complexity of contemporary circumstances and student life issues on college campuses.

Welch, from Mukwonago, Wis., is a 2000 graduate of St. Norbert College and received her masters in theological studies from the University of Notre Dame in 2002. She spent time teaching high school theology, as well as time volunteering in the Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky, before coming to work at St. Norbert.

For more information contact Rebecca Welch at rebecca.welch@snc.edu or 920-403-4255.