[Photo of Sr. Walter receiving the Visionary Award. Left to right: Karen Eifler, Sr. Walter Maher, Claire Noonan, Donna Carroll; Photo credit: Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos]
For the first time since its inception, the 2026 Collegium Visionary Award did not go to a Collegium alum, but to a campus liaison who has labored quietly and valiantly for decades to advance the aspirations of Collegium in novel ways in every nook and cranny of her campus. To the delight of her many colleagues at the annual gathering of mission officers in Washington, DC ahead of the ACCU conference on January 31, Sister Walter Maher of the University of the Incarnate Word received her award from Executive Director Karen Eifler and was commended by ACCU President Donna Carroll and CHEMON Chair Claire Noonan. Evidence of Sr. Walther’s catalytic impact include her tenacity and ingenuity in securing funding for mission-related projects proposed by her faculty from all disciplines, ongoing support of Collegium alums upon their return form the annual colloquy, and the thoughtful integration of Catholic imagination and social traditions into the entire revised Core Curriculum at UIW. The Visionary award comes with a stipend of $1000 to be used for a mission-focused project of Sr. Walter’s design, and a campus celebration that will be held in early April among the large and enthusiastic “sleeper cell” of Collegium alums Sr. Walter has empowered throughout the years.
Nominations for the 2027 Visionary Award are open on a rolling basis at this link, and should be received by September 15.