Wedergren Receives National Award
Mrs. Annette Jones (NCEA), Scarlett Wedergren, Shelly Wedergren, Dash Wedergren, Scott Wedergren, Dr. Michael Ashton (Omaha Archdiocese Catholic School Office)
Senior Dash Wedergren has received the 2018 Youth Virtues, Valor and Vision Award from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) for selfless service, determination, innovation and ideals that are changing the world.
“NCEA extends its sincere congratulations to all the winners and to all those who have supported the outstanding service and faith witness of these remarkable young people,” said NCEA Chief Leadership and Program Officer, Dr. Barbara Edmondson. “Young people in our Catholic schools are truly changing the world, one student at a time.”
Mrs. Annette Jones the NCEA, Washington D.C. presents Dash Wedergren with the Award
Dash was chosen from more than 1.9 million Catholic school students across the country. He was presented the prestigious NCEA Medal of Honor and Certificate on Monday, February 26, 2018 during our weekly chapel gathering at Mount Michael.
Monk Exchange Program: Dash and another student were looking through old yearbooks during their junior year and saw the monks and students sharing meals, playing cards, and socializing after class with the students. Dash wanted to increase the interaction between the students and the monastic community and founded the Monk Exchange Program as the first step in forming a stronger student connection with the monks. The Monk Exchange Program launched in the spring of 2017 and is run twice a month. Students sign up to go over to the Abbey, participate in night prayer, take a tour, and then enjoy socialization with members of the monastic community. Dash has worked diligently to make this program a success and he continues to add to the program to increase the connection between Mount Michael’s student body and the monastic community that makes the school possible.
“Dash is a true leader by both his words and actions,” said Dr. David J. Peters, Ed.D., Head of School. “He is very mature and kind, and he inspires others. In my thirty-four years in education Dash stands out as one of the finest students I have ever worked with.”
Dash is involved in a Gallup internship, Mock Trial, IT Club, Boy Scouts, Golf Team, and Student Council. He plans to major in Economics. His project centered around strengthening the connection between the students and the Benedictine Monastic community with a weekly prayer exchange. Each week a group of students joins the monks for a tour of the monastery, takes part in night prayer, and converses with the monks over ice cream in the Monastery dining room.
“I am honored to represent the on-campus monastic and Mount Michael Benedictine School community with this distinction,” said Dash. “The five Benedictine Values of service, community, integrity, hospitality, and moderation have and will continue to serve as a light to my path, and I am ever grateful to the monks for instilling these tenets in the students of Mount Michael.”
The Youth Virtues, Valor and Vision Awards program is made possible, in part, through the generosity and support of Cross Catholic Outreach, a Catholic ministry whose mission is to mobilize the global Catholic Church to transform the poor and their communities materially and spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ. Cross Catholic offers dynamic programs and free resources to Catholic educators to engage students in faith-in-action service projects and works of mercy. For more information about Cross Catholic Outreach please go to www.crosscatholic.org/PSCD.
Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) is a professional membership organization that assists its members to fulfill their teaching mission of the Church and to lead, learn and proclaim the good