Texas A&M Wins Outstanding College Council Award

More than 150 Knights representing approximately 55 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the Philippines came to New Haven for the annual Knights of Columbus College Council Conference.

Knights attended two days of presentations on topics that ranged from programming and membership to the leadership responsibilities of Knights on campus.

At the College Conference awards banquet Sept. 20, awards were presented to college councils in the five “Surge…with Service” areas, in membership and insurance categories, and for the outstanding college council of the year.

Texas A&M University Council 10624 in College Station was recognized as the outstanding college council for the depth and dynamism of its programming in all five “Surge…with Service” areas.

Conference guests also attended Mass at St. Mary’s Church, where the Order was founded in 1882. Dominican Father Jonathan C. Kalisch of Quinnipiac University Council 14277 in Hamden, Conn., was the principal celebrant and spoke to attendees about the role of college Knights on their campuses and in society at large.

“The truth of being leaders for life means that we must defend all life from its earliest stages,” said Father Kalisch during his homily.

At the awards banquet dinner, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson delivered the keynote address and spoke about his book, A Civilization of Love. He challenged college Knights to shift the current paradigms of culture and politics toward establishing a culture of life and love.

“Work toward your formation as Catholic laymen,” the supreme knight instructed banquet attendees. “Our most important contribution is yet to come. It will come from you.”

2008 College Council Awards

Outstanding College Council -Texas A&M University Council 10624 in College Station.

Church Activity Award - John Paul II Council 14188 at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.

Family Activity Award - George Washington University Council 13242 in Washington, D.C.

Youth Activity Award -Notre Dame University Council 1477 in Notre Dame, Ind.

Community Activity Award - Father Vincent Joseph Guinan Council 13940 at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.

Council Activity Award: - Crusader Council 2706 at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.

Net Insurance Gain (tie) - St. Joseph’s College Council 10060 in Edmonton, Alta. – and – Texas A&M University Council 10624 in College Station.

Percentage Insurance Gain - University of Iowa Council 5786 in Iowa City.

Net Membership Gain - Notre Dame University Council 1477 in Notre Dame, Ind.

Percentage Membership Gain - Loras College Council 9224 in Dubuque, Iowa.

If you are looking for more information on the Knights of Columbus College Council program, or have questions, please contact:

Michael V. Brewer
College Council Coordinator
Office:  203-752-4671
Mobile:  203-804-4005
Primary E-mail:  college@kofc.org
Secondary E-mail:  michael.brewer@kofc.org