The St. Paul Area Athena Awards program was initiated in 1995 to honor outstanding female athletes. Each year, one student-athlete from every St. Paul area public and private high school is selected to receive this award. Each award recipient is invited to a banquet and awards ceremony honoring her accomplishments in downtown St. Paul. The Athena Awards Committee has only one standard for schools participating in the Athena awards program: “Send us your best senior female athlete.” Starting from that base, each school has developed its own selection process and standards. To see the Visitation criteria click here.

Athena Award Winners

1995 Kacey Williams
1996 Mollie McQuillan
1997 Mindy Michel
1998 Katie Bernabei
1999 Mollie Shearen
2000 Shannon Fitzgerald
2001 Jenny Murphy Carnival
2002 Larissa Williams
2003 Kelsey Ostberg
2004 Patty Devoy
2005 Margaret Knoedler
2006 Katie Bono
2007 Jessica Leiferman

Excellence in Athletics

First presented in 1985, the award for excellence in athletics is given to the student-athlete who achieves the highest level of success in athletics during a single academic year. The level of success is primarily based on regular season, section, and state competition. In addition, evaluation by her peers, coaches, school administrators, section, metro, and state selection committees is included in determining the level of success. To see criteria, nomination, and selection process click here.

Excellence in Athletics Award Winners

1985 Shari Sullivan
1986 Jessica Leahy
1987 Jessica Leahy
1988 Karin Goettl
1989 Kristin Mulrooney
1990 Cindy Makens
1991 Frances Baillon
1992 Katie Hetherington
1993 Katie Sirek
1994 Anne Marie Ihnot
1995 Kacey Williams
1996 Katie Bernabei
1997 Mindy Michel
1998 Katie Bernabei
1999 Mollie Shearen
2000 Jeannie Ortiz
2001 Emily Petschel, Colleen Traeger
2002Larissa Williams
2003 Ellen Hartman
2004 Katie Bono
2005 Katie Bono
2006 Katie Bono
2007 Jessica Leiferman

The Bernard and Dolores Fink Sportsmanship Award

The Fink Memorial Sportsmanship Award was created in 2004 by Jeffrey Fink as a tribute to the memory of his dearly departed parents, Bernard and Dolores Fink. The lessons and fulfillment that athletics imparted onto Jeff were magnified by his parents’ love and support. In that spirit, this award was designed to honor those Visitation student athletes who have best absorbed the educational objectives that athletics provide. Two student-athletes will each receive an award and a one-year scholarship of $1,500. Scholarship awards will name the awardee and their intended college/university. To see Eligibility criteria, nomination, and selection process click here.

Fink Award Winners

2004: Marie Hickey, Allison Vetter
2005: Colette Finley, Jane Frenz
2006: Katie Bono, Theresa Evans
2007: Jessica Leiferman, Lindsey DeSutter

The Spanier Award for Leadership in Sports

This award is given in memory of Sandy Spanier, Visitation Athletic Trainer, who passed away during childbirth in August of 2000. In her almost ten years of service at Visitation, Sandy touched the lives of many coaches and student-athletes. She was a positive force in our lives, a caregiver, cheerleader, counselor, and mentor. It seems fitting to create an award for leadership and name it after someone who led by example so well. To see Eligibility criteria, nomination, and selection process click here.

Spanier Award Winners

2002: Tiffany Finley, Katie Sullivan
2003: Claire McGoldrick
2004: Marie Hickey, Jackie Kelly
2005: Ellie Flood, Shannon Traeger
2006: Ann Gehrz, Katharine Pennell
2007: Emily Jackson