The Aunties, a production presented by The O'Shaughnessy thanks to the generosity of donors like Celeste of St. Paul Hotel and Bar. Photo by Rebecca Zenefski Slater 鈥10.
From the
亚色影库 is fortunate to be the beneficiary of many grants and sponsorships from organizations and businesses invested in the institution鈥檚 robust academic and cultural life. Among those supporters is Celeste of St. Paul Hotel and Bar, a 2023鈥24 leadership sponsor of . Like St. Kate鈥檚, Celeste of St. Paul鈥檚 history is rooted in the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJs). The hotel was formerly St. Agatha鈥檚 Conservatory of Music and Art, founded by Mother Celestine Howard, CSJ, in 1884 鈥 a connection that made supporting The O鈥橲haughnessy a natural fit. Celeste of St. Paul aims to honor the CSJs鈥 work enriching the performance arts of the Twin Cities. 鈥淭hey were a big part of what helped make the culture of arts and music what it is today,鈥 said Todd Byhre, chief operating officer for Rebound Hospitality, who helped oversee branding for the hotel.
Quill Bird by Leah Yellowbird. Artwork courtesy of the .
That culture of art is alive at St. Kate鈥檚, and was recently enhanced by an anonymous $20,000 gift that created the BIPOC Art Acquisition Fund. An exciting new effort to diversify the University鈥檚 Fine Art Collection, the fund is designated for the purchase of artwork by artists of color for the campus. A student advisory group, led by Theo von Weiss 鈥23, Olivia Jean Bignall 鈥25, and Eva Ngono 鈥25, solicited feedback from students and made the final decisions on acquisitions. The student leaders said the project offered a chance for the campus to connect to local BIPOC and queer artists, particularly highlighting work that celebrates and uplifts the communities it represents. 鈥淔or students, representation is important in order to cultivate feelings of belonging, as well as educational safety,鈥 the three students said. 鈥淚n addition to our diversity being reflected through faculty and staff, we hope that this project is able to embody our community through physical space and artistic expression.鈥
KARE students at a November 2023 conference in Florida where they presented their work. Photo provided.
Across campus, academic programs are supported and enriched by grants like those from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Thanks to a $1.98 million grant from NIA, a division of the National Institutes of Health, the University鈥檚 Katies for Aging Research and Equity (KARE) program will be funded for another five years. The multi-year research education program was created with a goal of preparing a diverse set of students for careers in aging research, and since 2019 has successfully supported aging-focused education and research for underrepresented women and gender-diverse scholars at St. Kate鈥檚.
Katie Kat with golfers at the annual fundraising golf tournament. Photo provided.
Sponsors also make possible the continued success of . The annual fundraising golf tournament draws a range of sponsors whose contributions support student athletes and the athletic department throughout the year. The 2023 tournament attracted over 100 golfers, including sponsors, alumni, and current students.
Left to right: Lea B. Olsen and Dawn Staley at The O'Shaughnessy. Photo by Rebecca Zenefski Slater 鈥10.
At another lively community event, support from the Manitou Fund, Ameriprise Financial, and Securian Financial helped Katie Leadership Impact (KLI) bring decorated basketball coach Dawn Staley to The O鈥橲haughnessy. Sports journalist Lea B. Olsen moderated a discussion with Staley in front of a sold-out crowd. The May event was part of KLI鈥檚 Women of Color Leadership Series, which connects students with high-profile leaders from a diverse range of fields. 鈥淩epresentation matters, and hearing from trailblazing BIPOC women expands students鈥 sense of possibility and leadership aspirations,鈥 said Anupama Pasricha, PhD, dean of the School of Business.