Minnesota Couple to Receive St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award

The Seton Award is NCEA’s highest honor, given in recognition of significant contributions to Catholic education.

The award is named in honor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), the first native-born American saint.

The 21st annual Seton Awards ceremony will be held Monday, Oct. 3 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

Warren and Mary Lynn Staley have dedicated themselves to improving the lives and education of children throughout the Americas and Africa.

Warren Staley began working at Cargill in 1969 and served as chairman of its foundation from 1995 to 2005 before his retirement. At Cargill he demonstrated his commitment to a high ethical standard, both personally and in the actions of the corporation.

Mary Lynn Staley has devoted her time and talents to Benilde-St. Margaret’s School (BSM), a Catholic college-preparatory school in St. Louis Park, Minn. Mary Lynn Staley served on the board of directors and helped introduce strategic planning at BSM. Together the Staleys have given the largest single gift in the school’s history, allowing the school to remain affordable in future years for its great diversity of students.

The Staleys also made a lead gift to Kansas State University, their alma mater, establishing the school’s Center for Leadership Studies. Warren and Mary Lynn Staley have mutually embraced the mission of Opportunity International, an organization comprised of owned and regulated microfinance institutions that share a common mission to follow Jesus Christ’s call to serve the poor. The couple also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity in the Twin Cities, Mexico and South Africa.

This year’s other Seton Award recipients are:

• Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, recognized for his dedicated support of Catholic education;
• Joseph E. Robert Jr,  McLean, Va., for his unparalleled support of elementary and secondary education for low income families in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area; and
• Pleasant Rowland, Middleton, Wis., founder of the American Girl Collection, for her role in furthering children’s literary education.

John Convey, Washington, D.C., will receive the President’s Award for his research and strategic planning for Catholic schools in dioceses and archdiocese across the nation.

For reservations or additional information about the Seton Awards, contact Xaverian Brother Stephen Comeau at NCEA at (571) 257-2891.