Each year, the NCCW recognizes an outstanding young woman who has demonstrated acts of faith, humility, generosity, and kindness through her school, parish, and community involvement.  Female parishioners who are currently seniors in high school may apply or may be nominated. 

Thank you for your nominations and support of this year’s NCCW Spirit of Mary Award. Despite this year’s unusual circumstances, we had a number of outstanding candidates and it was not an easy selection process for the review committee.
  
The NCCW would like to thank our nominators, the review committee and the outstanding class of this year’s nominees.  Nativity is very blessed to have such inspiring young women in our community! A special thank you also goes to the Turner/Christy family who generously supports this award each year.
 
The recipient’s name will be added to the Spirit of Mary plaque that is on display next to the Madonna statue across from the office in Nativity School.  The statue and annual award have been generously donated by the Turner and Christy Families in memory of Irene Turner Christy.
 
All nominees receive a $50 gift from the Turner and Christy families, while the award recipient will be presented with a cash prize of $1000. The majority of the cash prize is to be used for the student’s ongoing educational needs, with 20% to be donated in the student’s honor to a charity of her choice.
  
NCCW is grateful for the support of the Turner and Christy families, the benefactors of this award. 

On behalf of the NCCW we are pleased to announce that this year’s Spirit of Mary award winner is Kathryn Laird.

We are sorry we weren’t able to publicly honor the nominees like we typically do at the Madonna Dinner each year. Each nominee will be highlighted in an upcoming Nativity parish bulletin.    
 
And now, the nominees…

 

Anna Hoppe

Anna Hoppe’s volunteer activities include Greater Minneapolis Children’s Crisis Nursery, Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels, Birthright, Dorothy Day, Shalom Home, Feed My Starving Children, and the Animal Humane Society.  She is a Certified Nursing Assistant.  At Visitation she participated in Volleyball, Nordic skiing, Theatre, and the Pro-Life Club. 
 
Her interests include camping, spending time outdoors, art, playing multiple instruments (including over 13 years of piano), art, and rollerblading.  She finds the good in all people and creatures and accepts people wherever they are on their own faith journey, acting with kindness, openness, and empathy.

 

Kathryn Laird | 2020 Spirit of Mary Award Winner

Kathryn Laird volunteers at Augustana Care Memory Unit, Loaves and Fishes, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Visitation Minneapolis Monastery, and Project Home. She participated in two school service trips to St. Louis and Washington D.C.

At Visitation she was the captain of the Tennis Team, captain of Mock Trial, president of the Life Club and was involved in musical theatre, student government, and was a Eucharisitic Minister and Mass lector.  Her interests include painting, baking, and playing cards. God has gifted her with many talents which she always uses to glorify Him and share God’s goodness with others.  

 

Molly Laird

Molly Laird served on the Campus Ministry Team and as a Eucharistic Minister at the Academy of Holy Angels.  She led The Respect Life Club and attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C.  Some of Molly’s other volunteer activities include National Honor Society tutoring and volunteering at Project Home, Arc’s Value Village, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Feed My Starving Children.  She is also a camp counselor at Opus Dei’s Camp Tuck, teaching young girls to be leaders of their Catholic faith. 
 
At Holy Angels she also was captain of the Tennis Team, participated in Track and Field, Theatre, and the Chemistry Club.  Molly enjoys photography, baking, and fishing at her family cabin.  Molly exhibits the faith, character and service of the Blessed Mother.  She demonstrates faith in her school community, generosity in the broader community, and service in her chosen activities.
 

Margaret Musolf

Margaret Musolf is a Diamond Officer and Deputy Brigade Commander for the Cretin-Derham Hall ROTC program and helped increase the number of female participants in ROTC at CDH. Her volunteer activities include Nativity altar serving, Night to Fight Homelessness, Project Home, Stonebridge Elementary School, and helping mentor Nativity’s kindness retreats.

She was involved in CDH Theatre, was the captain of the Tennis Team and the Regulation Drill team, and is one of the 2020 recipients of the Mother Seraphine Ireland award at CDH. Margaret is a thoughtful sister, friend, daughter and student. She sets herself aparts as a leader by mentoring other young women into leadership roles. 



 
 

Emma Newcombe

Emma Newcombe volunteers at Children’s Hospital, the Salvation Army, the Minneapolis Visitation Monastery, and the Holy Family Surgery Center in Honduras. For many years she has participated in the highest levels of Junior Olympic competitive gymnastics. In addition to her volunteer activities, she is a member of the Visitation Spanish and Environmental clubs.

This nominee stands out because of her joy and inner peace. She leads by example, encouraging those around her to put their gifts in service of others also.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Christina Treacy

Christina Treacy was a member of the Visitation Salesian Leadership team leading retreats, teaching monthly religion lessons, and mentoring younger students. At Visitation she also was a Eucharistic minister coordinator, Mass sacristan and Campus Ministry volunteer.

Other activities include Loaves and Fishes, Mount Olivet Homes, Camp du Nord Leader’s Club, Visitation Volleyball, Life Club, Environmental Club, Latin Club, VISTA Band, and VISTA Theatre. 

Christina spent many years doing Irish Dance and enjoys photography, camping, journaling, and reading. Her gentleness and openness to others — truly the “spirit of Mary” — allow her to touch the lives of each person with whom she comes in contact and her enthusiasm for serving others is an inspiration for many of her peers.