Santa Clara University Wins Catherine T. McNamee, CSJ, Award

Santa Clara University honored for programs advancing Catholic education
and reaching diverse students, communities

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Santa Clara University’s Academy of Blended Learning and Excellence in
Catholic Education and Leadership (ExCEL) programs have been chosen for
the 2016 Catherine T. McNamee, CSJ Award, which recognizes the
University’s exceptional leadership in “promoting a vision of Catholic
education that welcomes and serves cultural and economic diversity or
serves students with diverse needs.”

The award from the National Catholic Educational Association will be
presented on March 28, 2016, at the Annual NCEA President’s Dinner.

“Santa Clara University holds a unique position to model our Jesuit,
Catholic values in Silicon Valley,” said Engh. “We make great efforts
not only to provide a stellar education but also to help our students
understand and improve the lives of those with the least education,
power, and wealth in our community. We are gratified to receive this
important award and to be recognized for the results and impact we have
had.”

“Santa Clara University is being recognized for exceptional leadership
in promoting a vision of Catholic education that welcomes and serves
cultural and economic diversity,” said Dr. Thomas W. Burnford, interim
president of NCEA. “The university’s work reflects the heart of the
Catherine T. McNamee, CSJ, President’s Award. Congratulations to SCU.”

SCU’s leadership in pursuit of Catholic and educational diversity is
visible within many campus units, perhaps especially in its School of
Education and Counseling Psychology. The School has instituted a number
of programs to ensure that more highly qualified Catholic-school and
other educators are welcomed into the teacher-credentialing program in
an ongoing effort to revitalize Catholic-school education in the area.

SCU has worked with the Diocese of San Jose to offer an Excellence in
Catholic Education Leadership (ExCEL) program that subsidizes dedicated,
strong teacher candidates to become credentialed while teaching in
parochial schools. In addition, more than 100 Catholic school teachers
in the diocese have been trained by SCU’s Academy of Blended Learning,
which incorporates proven technological tools to better assess and
advance students in the classroom.

Other programs at SCU that exemplify the University’s efforts to improve
Catholic education and serve diverse communities include:

*The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics’ character-based literacy
programs, which incorporate character lessons in the basic educational
materials used by at-risk students and others. The Center also offers
Ethics Camp for Catholic school teachers, administrators, and
counselors, and “Build, Plant, Grow” faith-formation materials, which
help make Sunday Mass readings more lively and understandable to
Catholic-school youth.

*SCU’s Jesuit School of Theology, through its Instituto Hispano, trains
up to 100 Spanish-speaking lay or clergy parish leaders each summer in
advanced theology, to help them better serve thriving Hispanic Catholic
populations.

*SCU’s College of Arts and Sciences departments conduct research or
offer educational opportunities to area diocesan elementary schools, and
undergraduate students undertake many of their “experiential learning
for social justice” programs in lower-income neighborhoods and with
community partners that serve there.

*Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education partners with community
organizations in its Thriving Neighbors Initiative, which promotes
strategic ties between SCU and the lower-income Greater Washington
community in San Jose.

*Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship offers a fully funded
fellowship to more than a dozen students annually to conduct action
research for “social entrepreneurs” who are working to solve problems
associated with poverty in a variety of countries.

*The Office of Campus Ministry offers annual retreats, leadership
development, liturgical ministry opportunities, and scholarships for
first-generation college students and others.

About Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university
located 40 miles south of San Francisco in California’s Silicon Valley,
offers its more than 9,000 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in
arts and sciences, business, and engineering; master’s degrees in
business, education, counseling psychology, pastoral ministry, and
theology; and law degrees and engineering Ph.D.s. Distinguished
nationally by one of the highest graduation rates among all U.S.
master’s universities, California’s oldest operating higher-education
institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social
justice. For more information, see www.scu.edu.

About the Catherine T. McNamee, CSJ Award

The Catherine T. McNamee, CSJ Award is presented from the National
Catholic Educational Association to an individual or institution that
offers exceptional leadership in promoting a vision of Catholic
education that welcomes and serves cultural and economic diversity or
that serves students with diverse needs. Learn more at https://www.ncea.org/about-us.

Contacts

SCU Media Relations
Deborah Lohse, 408-554-5121
dlohse@scu.edu