Community Awards

Bishop Douglas Crosby accepting the John R. and Kay Sweeney Award with Bruce Rodrigues and Peter Meehan
Community Awards

Chancellor John R. and Kay Sweeney Award for Catholic Leadership

Each year, at the Feast of St. Jerome's, St. Jerome's University recognizes one outstanding community member with its highest honour, the Chancellor John R. and Kay Sweeney Award for Catholic Leadership.

This Award was established in 2001; to honour the contributions of a distinguished leader whose body of professional and personal accomplishments in fields not limited to education, health care, ministry, civic life, social services, and commerce reflect the highest values, mission, and ideals of St. Jerome’s University. Originally named in honour of the first lay Chancellor of St. Jerome’s University, John R. Sweeney, the award was renamed in 2022 to also honour the life and contributions of Kay Sweeney alongside her husband. As you know, John and Kay were exemplary Catholic leaders whose legacy lives on in many ways at the university and in the community.

Past Recipients

  • Sister Marie Taylor SSND
  • The Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, OMI, Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario
  • Steven Lubczuk
  • Rob Way
  • Right Honourable Paul Martin
  • Dr. Jack Sehl
  • Isabel Uriarte Latorre and Victor Rojas
  • Dr. Donna Ward
  • Frank Clifford Sr.
  • Bruce Rodrigues
  • Sr. Joan Cronin, g.s.i.c.
  • Senator Noel Kinsella
  • Fr. Bernie Hayes, C.R.
  • John Milloy, MPP
  • Craig Kielburger
  • Rev. Dr. James McConica, C.S.B.
  • School Sisters of Notre Dame (Canadian Province)
  • Margaret Visser
  • The Honourable Allen J. MacEachen
  • Fr. Jacques Monet, SJ
  • Congregation of the Resurrection (Ontario-Kentucky Province)

Award Criteria

The candidate will be a distinguished leader whose body of professional and/or personal accomplishments in fields not limited to education, health care, ministry, civic life, social services and commerce reflect the highest values, mission and ideals of St. Jerome’s University.

Selection Process

  1. Call for nominations continues throughout the year. Friends, family, colleagues, staff and faculty members, alumni, and community members may nominate candidates.
  2. The Selection Committee will be responsible for reviewing all the nominations and select the award recipient.
  3. The award recipient will be notified following the selection process.

Nomination Procedure

St. Jerome’s University welcomes nominations from anyone familiar with the work, character and/or achievements of the award candidate. 

Honours and awards nomination form
  1. Nominee information
  2. Your information
  3. Complete
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Please provide the following information about your nominee to the best of your ability.

What is your relationship to the nominee?
Is the person you are nominating for this award a graduate from the University of Waterloo?

In light of St. Jerome's mission, vision and values, and the award nomination criteria briefly explain why you believe this nominee should be considered for the award. Please highlight any significant personal and/or professional contributions that your nominee has made in their community and/or the world.

Our Office of Advancement may contact you for more details.
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