Aquinas’s Reflections Award this year went to three people who are not only long-time friends of the college’s, but they are also long-time friends themselves. Pictured here (on the left) at the ceremony September 19 are the three honorees: Ralph Hauenstein, Sister Aquinas Weber, and Peter Wege (seated) with Aquinas President Juan Oliverez.
This annual tribute is called the Reflections Award because the person selected each year “reflects” the values of Aquinas College by leading a life of commitment, vision, service, loyalty, and integrity. To celebrate Aquinas’s 125th anniversary, for the first time the college named three people as Reflections Award winners. Certainly these three 2011 honorees embody Reflections’ noble standards. Their commitments to Aquinas go back more than half a century, and include serving as trustees, inspiring students as teachers, and supporting the Catholic college with generous donations.
*** Kate Pew Wolters, pictured above with Peter, is the granddaughter of Henry Idema who co-founded Metal Office Furniture – today’s Steelcase – with Peter’s father Peter Martin Wege and David Hunting in 1912. These two pictured descendants of the MOF founders look forward to being part of next year’s festivities as Steelcase celebrates a full century in the office-furniture business.
