Four graduates to be honored by CSB at Reunion 2017

Four graduates of the College of Saint Benedict will be recognized with Reunion 2017 Awards.

Jackie Boucher ’87, Kimberly Ebert Colella ’82, Megan Peterson Christofield ’07 and Telzena Coakley ’62 will receive their respective awards at the Gala Awards Dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 24, in room 204, Gorecki Center, CSB.

The CSB Alumnae Board, on behalf of CSB, presents Reunion Awards to outstanding alumnae from reunion years whose daily lives reflect and honor the Benedictine tradition and mission of the school. Nominations are accepted each year. For more information regarding the nomination process, please contact the Alumnae Relations Office.

Here’s a look at the four women who will be honored during Reunion:

Distinguished Alumna Award
Jackie Boucher ’87

The award honors an alumna who has distinguished herself for her outstanding achievements in her chosen profession as well as has made a lasting contribution in her field as a role model and leader for all alumnae.

Boucher is a scholar, advocate and executive whose leadership has caused profound change in health care. She serves as president of Children’s Heartlink, which partners with organizations to train medical teams, provide education and transform health care in underserved parts of the world.

Boucher previously worked with the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF), and continues her work with the MHIF on initiatives to prevent coronary heart disease and diabetes.

She has volunteered with the American Diabetes Association for more than two decades. Boucher is credited with 75 journal publications, 150 articles, several book chapters and more than 100 presentations.

Boucher, who received a degree in dietetics from CSB, has continued her relationship with her alma mater as a volunteer, mentor and donor.  

Benedictine Service Award
Kimberly Ebert Colella ’82

The award honors an alumna who has made a significant impact on those around her for her continued commitment and contributions to community service and social justice at a regional, national or international level. It also demonstrates a commitment to the Benedictine spirit of giving, hospitality, love of others, listening and social stewardship.

Colella founded Body Sacred Therapy in 1991 in Tacoma, Washington. She is a professionally trained practitioner of a breadth of massage and therapeutic modalities since 1987.

While birth is a central component of her work – she has served as a birth doula at over 25 births –Colella openly embraces its opposite. In 2004, Colella co-authored “Lasting Gifts: Living With Intention, Dying in Peace,” a manual to aid in the process of planning for unexpected illness or death.

She has a deep passion for helping others live life fully. She ministered to both the elderly and teens as a Jesuit Volunteer; traveled to Calcutta to experience the work of Mother Theresa; and joined a delegation of women to witness the AIDS pandemic in South Africa.

Kim is the recipient of the 1992 Decade Award from CSB, the 2013 Alumni of Distinction Award  from Hill-Murray High School in Maplewood, Minnesota, and the 2010 Laureate of the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize. 

Decade Award
Megan Peterson Christofield ’07

The award honors an alumna who is recognized by her peers as a great role model and leader for younger alumnae because her outstanding career achievements, representing global consciousness and community involvement in her chosen profession.

By the time Christofield graduated from CSB, she had already collaborated with fellow classmates to organize an experiential learning trip to Uganda. This was the first of many trips to Uganda for her and the school.

After graduation, Christofield joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Uganda. She completed her Peace Corps service, then received a master’s in public health from Johns Hopkins University.

Christofield went to work for Jhpiego, a global nonprofit that works to prevent the needless deaths of women and their families. As a technical adviser, she is tasked with improving access to reproductive health care and resources for women and families in developing countries, including Uganda.

She describes her role as a knowledge broker, working closely with colleagues and high-ranking international government officials for improving women’s care.

Sister Emmanuel Renner Award
Telzena Coakley ’62

The award honors an alumna for her service to CSB and recognizes her contributions as a leader, steward and volunteer to her alma mater.

Coakley has helped many Bahamian students to CSB. She co-founded CSB’s Bahamas Extension Program in 1974, and worked tirelessly to foster connections between the CSB community and both public and private school educators in the Bahamas.

Coakley served as a developer, student recruiter, program director and part-time lecturer for CSB from 1974-90. She majored in mathematics and history while at CSB, and worked closely with Renner when she ran the history department.

She has been oft-honored by CSB, earning the President’s Medal in 1979 and 2010, the college’s Lumen Vitae Award in 1992 and the Saint Ben’s Centennial Circle of Sisters Award on behalf of all Bahamian graduates in 2013.