Sister Joan Sorge, principal of St. Agnes School, Springfield, was honored as Distinguished Principal in the Great Lakes Region by the National Catholic Education Association at its awards banquet April 6 in Minneapolis. Three days later on April 9, Sister Marilyn Jean Runkel, an instructor at Benedictine University in Springfield, was honored as an Education Hero by the Springfield American Red Cross Chapter, at its Heroes Breakfast, held at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield.

“It is an honor for a diocese to be blessed to have people of this caliber and dedication working in education for Catholic kids,” said Jean Johnson, superintendent of Catholic schools, in the diocesan Office for Catechetical Ministries. “To have them both get awards within a week — it was unreal. The award in Minneapolis was given on Tuesday, and the one in Springfield was the following Friday. It really was uplifting and exciting to be there. We are just lucky they have both given their lives to our schools and our diocese. We are very blessed. They both know how much we appreciate it, how much they are appreciated.”

In addition to teaching at Benedictine, Sister Marilyn Jean is board president of St. Patrick School in Springfield. She is a former president of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School and former director of the diocesan Office for Catholic Education.

“She has the gift of inspiring people by her example,” wrote Erica Smith, a student at Benedictine, who nominated Sister Marilyn Jean for the award.

Other categories the Red Cross gives hero awards include: youth, military, public safety, seniors, community, workplace, healthcare, and civic.

At either front end of the NCEA awards banquet hall in Minneapolis, a huge screen was set up showing continuous photos of the 2010 distinguished principals.

“I believe that Catholic education thrives in a faith-filled community that nurtures the individual gifts and talents of each child. I believe that the purpose of Catholic education is to instill in each and every child a deep commitment to faith, family, community and service,” Sister Joan is quoted in the awards banquet booklet.

Father Robert Jallas, St. Agnes pastor, and Julie Cardosi-Rogers, a member of the St. Agnes school board, were at the banquet to see Sister Joan receive her award.

“It was a wonderful event,” said Father Jallas. “The recognition given to Sister Joan is what many of us here at St. Agnes and at other schools where she has served are very much in agreement. She is just excellent in the field of education administration and a very God-centered woman. She brings that to her workplace. It is recognition of what others have long seen.”

Sister Marilyn Jean looks at her Heroes Award as a reflection on her being “a Dominican sister — my education, my spiritual development, the many, many opportunities that I have had in life. For me all that is a gift to be shared with others. It was a surprise, and kind of heartwarming to learn I was selected for this award.”