Kimberly White
Staff Writer
kmw722@cabrini.edu
Two students were extremely grateful to be presented with the Charles A. Mastronardi service and leadership award at the Cabrini day event on Thursday, Nov. 11. Megan Beauduy and Michaela McGowan are two Cabrini students who received the award that is presented to deserving students once every year.
Dr. Mary Laver, coordinator of community outreach, said, “It reflects the legacy of compassion Cabrini students have handed down to each other through the generations.”
The Mastronardi award began with two sisters who attended Cabrini in the 1960s. Margaret Mastronardi and Ruth Mastronardi-Baldovin were volunteers at local hospitals and nursing homes while they were students at Cabrini, and they wanted to have a lasting impact on the Cabrini student body. The sisters designed this scholarship award in honor of their uncle, Charles A. Mastronardi.
The award is presented to students who apply and meet the necessary qualifications and requirements. These qualifications and requirements include maintaining a 2.5 grade point average, eligibility for financial aid, a service background and completion of at least 30 college credits.
Mastronardi award winner and senior education major, Megan Beauduy, said, “I’m very honored and flattered to receive the award.”
Beauduy is involved with many service projects that Cabrini offers to students. She is the senior executive director of “Up Til Dawn,” which is an organization recognizing the needs of St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Beauduy also participated in the border experience as a freshman in order to learn about social and economical issues where one of the poorest areas of the world meets one of the richest-the border between Mexico and the United States.
Beauduy is involved in many education societies and according to Laver she is “a tremendous inspiration to the entire campus. She’s enthusiastic, dedicated and organized.”
Mastronardi award winner and senior history major, Michaela McGowan said, “I am thankful to everyone who made that award possible and to everyone who supported us.”
According to Laver, McGowan is very independent and has a mind of her own. She participated in the border experience twice, and was a student leader of the experience once. McGowan is a student worker at the Wolfington center, and is very active in retreat programs, mass and the Martin Luther King Jr. day of service.
Apparently, Cabrini’s focus on service was McGowan’s reason for choosing to attend the school. McGowan said, “I’ve always had a passion to help my fellow man. I think it is important to do all we can to help better the world for everyone. We are each gifted in many ways. If we utilize all of our skills, we can make a great impact on the world. I encourage everyone to take time out of their life to help someone else; the reward you get is greater than any amount of money.”
McGowan organized the “Operation: support our troops” program that sends care packages and cards to the troops in Iraq. McGowan has a brother who is a soldier in Iraq. According to Laver, McGowan is also strongly considering being a volunteer for Cabrini Mission Corps after graduation.
Laver said, “Both girls are reminders that two Cabrini virtues are energy and perseverance. Megan and Michaela are both seniors but neither one of them have a touch of senioritis. They are becoming even more dedicated to service, rather than becoming less interested as graduation quickly approaches.”
