One Hundred Years is Worth Remembering

Kate Murphy

Newswriting and Reporting

Multi-week Writing Assignment #1

October 4, 2012

One Hundred Years is Worth Remembering

           

            You only celebrate 100 years once. 2012 marks the 100th year of existence for The College of St. Scholastica. There is celebrating, reminiscing, and overwhelming sensation of pride in the form of the blue and gold school colors. While all of these are great attributes, would we still have this same “Cor et Anima” passion if it wasn’t the Centennial? We may take for granted the beginnings at The College of St. Scholastica, but in the back of our minds, the Sister’s determination brought us here. The Sisters and the values they have integrated into our school up on a hill in Duluth will always be a part of our story, whether we acknowledge it or not; we are Saints for life.

            From the willingness and determination of the Benedictine Sisters, the foundation for my home away from home came into existence. Without the Sisters, you never would’ve met the new friends you have made or connected to the incredible staff.

            “There is absolutely no way we would be here without them,”  Reverend William C. Graham, Ph. D. and director of the Braegelman Program in Catholic Studies at The College of St. Scholastica, said. “They envisioned it and built it. They run it and they own it.”

            According to The College St. Scholastica’s website, our history began with the Sister’s determination.   

“The College of St. Scholastica owes its existence to the combining of two forces: Benedictine missionary zeal and the mushrooming settlement of Duluth. The school's origins date back to 1892, when Mother Scholastica Kerst and twenty-eight Sisters arrived from St. Benedict's Academy in St. Joseph, Minnesota, to spearhead the establishment of a Benedictine mother-house and an academy in Duluth. Initially, both convent and school were quartered in Munger Terrace. Within three years, increasing enrollment required building a new facility at Third Avenue East and Third Street. Named Sacred Heart Institute, the high school continued to grow rapidly in size and prestige. Duluth's rapid expansion at the turn of the century led to a third move in 1909 - this time to The College of St. Scholastica's present location.”

The history of the Sisters brings faculty, staff, and students together. 100 years allows us to acknowledge those who created our home and to start the journey toward the future.

“The Centennial is a time to celebrate our past, present and our moving into the future,” Sister Mary Rochefort, Associate Vice President for Mission at CSS said. “100 years of “Love of Learning” is a great accomplishment for the monastery and college community.”

Our time now, began 100 years ago. CSS’ website further explains this fact by recalling in response to Duluth’s growing community needs, the school expanded into a junior college and changed its name to The College of St. Scholastica. Back in 1912, the enrollment was only six students, but those students paved the way for our future.

These one hundred years are not just another event. It’s history in the making. We walk on the same steps as the sisters did twenty, forty, sixty years ago. There’s more behind the birthday cake than we think.

“I think about many things with the Centennial,” Dr. Robert Hensely, a psychology professor at CSS, said. “I think about all the predecessors, faculty and staff, before me, that helped shape the college into what it is today. I can just envision the first class with the Sisters. The Centennial is a tribute to the Sisters back then and those alive today.”

Young adults come to college for many reasons, whether it is to further their education, experience the real world, or to get away from mom and dad. Just like us in 2012, the Sisters had their reasons to establish this college back in 1912. Their spark ignited for future generations to come to this beautiful town; we are history in the making.  

“It feels great to be a part of this amazing college and its history,” Taylor Okeson, a sophomore, said about the Centennial celebration. “It’s amazing to think that it was created so long ago and it continues to be such a great college.”

Today, the community has 94 Sisters. Sister Margaret Clarke, a historian at the Benedictine monastery, stated that the largest amount of Sisters was 1964-65, totaling 520. Even though their number is declining, their legacy should not.

“It makes me proud to be a Saint,” Drew Iverson, a sophomore at The College of St. Scholastica, said. “I feel like a part of history, considering this is one-hundred years of progress made possible by the Sisters.”

            The values of community, hospitality, respect, stewardship and a love of learning are all evident at CSS. It binds the students, staff, and alumni together. Students are forever growing toward “Becoming St. Scholastica,” also known as “Cor et Anima." Integrating the Latin phrase of “heart and soul” is a dedication that students set out to live. We are all Saints and to come together, whether it is a football game or through academics, is a way we as a community are, as the homecoming motto said, “Towering Above the Rest.”

            “The Centennial meant to me that tradition is very important to our school,” junior Sarah Sluka said. “I think that they really like to embrace community and an important part of that is tradition. It was a great way to bring all of the students together and really be proud of CSS and to be a part of that community.”

            If we take a minute to stop and think, would the Sisters and the college be a subject on our mind? While it may not be the first thing to ponder about, the dedication, support and life that the Sisters have endowed into The College of St. Scholastica are awe inspiring and worth noting.

            One hundred years is a big deal. So, take the time to reflect on the past. Without the Sisters, you wouldn’t be going to school in a castle.

            “Thanks to them, we call this place our home,” said Hensley.