On Friday, May 22, 2009, Mount Notre Dame recognized Mary Beth Dickert, daughter of Tom and Mary Dickert of Loveland, with the highest non-academic tribute given to a graduating senior. The St. Julie Billiart Christian Leadership Award, named in honor of the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, acknowledges a student who promotes parish involvement, contributes to the spiritual growth of the school community and whose personal integrity reflects the values of Jesus Christ.
While at MND, Mary Beth demonstrated these characteristics while being highly involved in several extracurriculars, including: Parish Council, Leadership Council, Big Sis/Little Sis and Respect Life Club (president). Outside of school, Dickert was a religious education teacher, church cantor and lector and a member of the Youth Ministry Advisory Board at her parish, just to name a few.
Students in the Class of 2009 nominated Mary Beth for the award and many seniors pointed out her willingness to share her faith and love for God with them. One senior said, “Jesus is ever-present in her decision making and in determining how she treats others.” Another wrote, “She lets God’s goodness show in everything she does. Her words and actions are an expression of commitment to Jesus every day of her life.” And one classmate paid a great tribute to her by saying, “Her life is representative of the good Catholic Christian life God wants everyone of us to lead – solid morals, kindness to others, and a positive, faith-filled attitude.”
The award was presented by Emily Van Atta, the youth minister at St. Gertrude’s in Madeira. Van Atta described the passion that Mary Beth puts into her life and her faith and how that positive light spreads to those around her. She illuminated on the positive comments that came from Mary Beth’s classmates and detailed the charisma that she demonstrates daily.
After receiving the honor, Mary Beth humbly stated, “It was so touching to hear how my classmates have seen in me the kind of person I strive to be. Often, I think we all simply live our day to day lives without anyone noticing the way we do it. That's what the St. Julie Billiart award does, though. It's the small actions that we do that make us who we are, and I feel so blessed to know that my classmates have seen those little things and considered me a role model. I feel so honored to receive the award and want to thank my classmates, friends, family, the staff at MND, and most importantly, God, for blessing me with so much and helping me to be the person I am today.”
Photo: The St. Julie Billiart Christian Leadership Award, named in honor of the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, acknowledges a student who promotes parish involvement, contributes to the spiritual growth of the school community and whose personal integrity reflects the values of Jesus Christ, was awarded to Mary Beth Dickert ’09 of Loveland, OH.
