Yesterday, January 4, is the date set aside by the Church to honor our own saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton. The educational mission she began continues today at parochial schools throughout this country.
Although the college was closed in 1973, SJC Alumnae maintain strong ties to each other and Emmitsburg, supporting local charities and returning to the Valley to attend annual reunions. Alumnae treasure their relationship and the experiences they shared at St. Joseph College.
Recognizing that life of the Alumnae Association is a limited one, the Alumnae wanted to establish a lasting influence in Emmitsburg to ensure that the educational legacy of Mother Seton and St. Joseph College will endure, well beyond the life of the Alumnae Association.
In memory of all St. Joseph College Alumnae, the St. Joseph College Scholarship at Mount St. Mary's University was established in 2013. The first award will be for the 2015-2016 academic year.
One of our alumna , Jane Reiter Miller '47 , grateful for the education she received at St. Joseph College, looked for ways to help others obtain similar opportunities. She described her experience at SJC as a "life-changing experience that I have called on so many times in my life."
Years ago, Jane was able to assist a migrant family relocate from migrant housing to a stable, regular home. The family had several young children. Jane began saving money in the hopes that, when the children were older, she would be able to contribute to their college education. Recently, the first of the children who was college age decided to enter the Marines instead of attending college. Not wanting to abandon her dream of making education available to one who might need it, Jane saw our SJCAA Scholarship Fund as a perfect choice for the funds she had intended for him. Her generous spirit has provided a donation of over $24,000 to our Scholarship Fund and certainly reflects the spirit of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
When asked if we could publicize her generous donation, Jane replied "Yes, I hope it will encourage some others to contribute as well."
On this day, we are grateful for Jane and all of you who bring the spirit of caring and love of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton to all of those whom your lives have touched. We think that St. Elizabeth Ann Seton would be proud that her devotion to education is still alive in those who have walked the grounds of the school she began.
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