Aquinas faculty and staff are known for their dedication to the service of others. Aquinas presents a liberal arts education as encompassing more than simply a wide range of curriculums - it couples that thirst for knowledge with community work, reaching out to others. This is notable not only among students and professors, but among all the members of the Aquinas family, such as Sister Mary Aquinas Weber, O.P. '58.

Through years of continued work with the College, Sister Aquinas Weber has inspired many lives in faith and service, and her efforts have been felt by so many: from her role as board member for so many organizations (including the Salvation Army, YMCA, and more), to her work in community development in the 1970s with the Eastown Neighborhood Project, restoring a once struggling part of the area. While Sister Aquinas has been previously honored for her hard work, she is now recipient to a particularly exciting honor shared by philanthropists and a former President of the United States.

Sister Aquinas Weber has been selected as the recipient of the Slykhouse Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Economic Club of Grand Rapids. She receives this award on May 29, 2012. The award is presented every year to an individual (described by the organization as a “non-business” executive) that has aided the wider community economically through their work and dedication. Past honorees include Peter Wege, Ralph Hauenstein, and President Gerald R. Ford.

The Economic Club of Grand Rapids focuses its efforts on connecting individuals passionate about the continued economic growth of Grand Rapids. Through a variety of offerings - including scholarships, study programs, and more - it seeks to further the knowledge of relevant business and sociopolitical matters: both that of its membership as well as students of business. Sister Aquinas Weber will be awarded as part of the Club’s 25th Annual Dinner. At the dinner, where she will be introduced by Aquinas president Juan Olivarez, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be a guest speaker.

This is one of many honors Sister Aquinas Weber has received throughout the years, including the Women’s Achievement and Courage Award in 2006 from the Michigan Women’s Foundation; the Hometown Hero Award in 2009 from the American Red Cross; and most recently, the Papal Cross, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, from Pope Benedict XVI. She is a vital part of the Aquinas community, having served as Vice President for Development at Aquinas, and acting in many other leadership roles throughout her storied history with the College. She first received a bachelor of arts from the institution, later becoming Chancellor of Aquinas College and involving herself in meeting local needs.

Born during the Great Depression to a large family, Sister Aquinas Weber has a memorable legacy of service and compassion. Her commitment to the Dominican charisms of prayer, study, community, and service - which have guided her own life as a devout Dominican sister - have reached beyond the walls of Aquinas College and into the lives of others. It is this spark that has informed her efforts in the growth of Grand Rapids, as recognized by the Economic Club, and all those whose lives she has touched.