Kristen Bednar ’09 was surprised and humbled when she was named the first recipient of a new award last spring.  At the spring athletics banquet, she was presented the inaugural Daniel F. Sullivan Athletic Leadership and Community Service Award.  Co-captain of the Women’s Nordic ski team, a University communications intern, and a member of the presidential search committee in 2008, Bednar was chosen because of her outstanding involvement in the St. Lawrence community.
Bednar was handed the prize, personally, by President Sullivan. He retired on June 30, 2009.

“To receive the award in its first year made the experience truly unique and I was, and will always be, truly honored,” she said.

Bednar was well aware of how well President Sullivan had served the University during his tenure, and how his achievements helped the University to grow and to develop a wider name for itself.  His “passionate commitment to the liberal arts and the experience SLU provides to its students, staff and community” is his invaluable legacy to the school, she said.

Bednar graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in English (writing concentration).  She represented St. Lawrence in NCAA post-season ski tournaments and was active in student government, was a member of the Student Judiciary Board and was elected to Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) leadership honorary and Phi Beta Kappa.  Now a graduate student in the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business, in her spare time she enjoys hiking in the Adirondacks, writing, reading and laughing.