Meet the 2020 Heart of the Walking Woman Celebration Finalists
The Heart of the Walking Woman Celebration — which is a tradition at College of Saint Mary — recognizes students who exemplify character, service and leadership on campus. Inductees took some time to reflect on what it means to them to be chosen as a finalist for this prestigious honor. Winners will be chosen during a ceremony on Friday, Feb. 21. The Celebration Ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. in the CSM Chapel with a reception immediately following in the Hillmer Art Gallery.
First-year
Beatriz Hernandez Arista
Major: Kinesiology and Exercise Science
"I am honored and very blessed to be representing the first year students as a finalist. To me this award represents perseverance, leadership, service, dedication, hard work, and most importantly: kindness. I would not have been able to be where I am at if it was not for all the wonderful help from the staff, faculty, and students at College of Saint Mary. As a first generation student I am even more blessed to be a finalist for the first year students. All I can say is that God is blessing day by day and year by year."
Morgan Ethen
Major: Nursing
"Being nominated as a finalist for the Heart of the Walking Woman Award is truly an honor. This award helps showcase amazing women based on character and service, and I'm very grateful and honored to be represented among such amazing people. This award is also very special to me because my mom was a finalist her freshman year also."
Amya Harris Harper
Major: Nursing
“I was so honored to be nominated for the Walking Woman award my first year of college. My hard work and dedication to my studies has paid off and has been recognized by others, which motivates me to keep on going. During voting week, so many people mentioned that they had voted for me, which made me so happy. People who did not really know me still voted for me because I have been involved in so many things that my face was familiar to them. Some days can be tough and I sometimes question whether or not I should continue my education - but things like this remind me exactly why I am here. I would like to thank the school for this opportunity and to thank everyone who voted for me. It means everything and I will continue to shine like a star."
Second-year
Grace Blum
Major: Elementary and special education
"The Heart of the Walking Woman nomination means so much to me. For me, the Walking Woman is someone who is always striding forward even in the face of difficulties and hardships. She is someone who perfectly embodies the College of Saint Mary values of integrity, service, excellence, inclusion, diversity, and compassion. For these reasons, the Walking Woman is someone I strive to be. I strive to maintain a positive outlook on life even when things get tough. I strive to embody those values and make them a part of my life. Although I am far from perfect, this is a heart-warming nomination because, to me, it means my peers see me as someone who is becoming a Walking Woman. Through my short time at College of Saint Mary, I have grown so much and taken these values to heart. They are something I am learning to be better at and continuously grow in to help me be a better leader, teacher, and person after I graduate. I am truly blessed to have been thought of as a nominee."
Emily Jacobson
Major: Nursing
"Being chosen as a finalist for the Heart of the Walking Woman means that I am continuing a legacy set by both my mom and aunt who went to the College of Saint Mary. This honor reassures me that I am becoming an influential and inspiring leader. I have grown so much as a woman of character, faith, and service, and I wish to continue that. I am honored to represent my class selected by the faculty, staff, and students. I look forward to what my future has in store here at the College of Saint Mary."
Maddie DeWitt
Major: Human biology
"The honor of standing before my peers and mentors as a finalist in such a long-standing tradition is an inexpressible feeling of gratitude and joy. College of Saint Mary's mission and the individuals who passionately crusade for such a noble cause who came before me, are with me, and will be after my time are all represented in this ceremony's core. The Walking Woman stands for a confident, yet humble, servant leader, and to even be considered for such a representation is tremendously moving. Also, standing next to Emily Jacobson and Grace Blum, who are both such effortlessly generous and naturally service-oriented ladies is another league of honor in itself. I want to take this opportunity to earnestly thank the CSM staff, faculty, and students for their efforts to keep Sr. McAuley's vision alive."
Third-year
Kelsey Crum
Major: Nursing
"I feel very honored that I was chosen to be a finalist along with all the other amazing nominees. This nomination means that my character, leadership, and service were noticed by the CSM community. Being nominated for this award has been a very humbling experience and one that I won’t forget. I want to thank my family, friends, and the CSM community for all of their support and love throughout my journey here at College of Saint Mary."
Elaundra Nichols
Major: Occupational Therapy
"I feel honored to be recognized for the good I do and for being a leader on campus. To me, it also means I am doing the right thing and exemplifying integrity. Being a Walking Woman, I feel, is letting the light inside you shine and being a woman of good character.
Nicole McPhillips
Major: Biology and chemistry
"Throughout my past three years at the College of Saint Mary, I have been given the amazing opportunity to grow and develop into the woman I am today. Being nominated as a finalist for the Heart of the Walking Woman means that my hard work and effort in everything I do leaves a positive impact on those around me both at CSM and in the Omaha community. I am honored to stand beside the other women nominated for the Heart of the Walking Woman Award."
Fourth-year
Stephanie Collings
Major: Nursing
"My nomination as a finalist for the Heart of the Walking Woman has meant so much to me. I was so surprised to have been nominated, but to be chosen among so many other incredible women as a finalist is truly an honor. I couldn’t have been chosen as a finalist without the support and motivation I’ve received from my family, friends, professors and the CSM community. I’m truly honored and humbled to have been recognized for my leadership, involvement, and my passion for helping others. This nomination as a finalist for the Heart of the Walking Woman has shown me how much I’ve grown over the last four years. This nomination has inspired me to continue to be the best version of myself possible. Most importantly, I hope to make my 11-month-old daughter proud and show her what it means to be a Walking Woman."
April Francisco Klusaw
Major: Middle school science education
"Going back to school as a parent required sacrifice, determination, and, most importantly, balance between my family, work, and school. I could have only hoped to be a positive role model for my kids as I navigated this challenge, so it was an honor to be recognized as a woman of character, service and leadership by others on campus. To be found worthy of being a Heart of the Walking Woman finalist is even more humbling. I am so grateful for all the support I’ve received from the CSM community, my friends, and especially my family that allowed me to fully commit to my education and engage in such meaningful roles on campus. I hope to embody these ideals and continue to be seen as a woman of integrity as I move forward into the teaching profession and develop the next generation of leaders."
Miriam Olague Cepeda
Major: Business analytics and strategic communication
"Being a finalist for the Heart of the Walking Woman Award is just incredibly humbling. I’ve worked along incredible women throughout my years at CSM, and having the opportunity to be standing next to some of them is amazing. I’ve realized that all my hard work and dedication on campus has not gone unseen, and this makes me very thankful for those that pushed me to become involved on campus since my freshman year."
