Four Johnnies to receive Caritas Man of Extraordinary Service awards

Many students at Saint John's University serve the community without expecting a reward. On Sunday, April 24, four Johnnies will receive some much-deserved recognition.

Frantz Soiro, Ramond Mitchell, Abdirizak Jama and Peter Johnson will be presented with the Caritas Man of Extraordinary Service Award at a private reception and luncheon at SJU. Abbot John Klassen, OSB, of Saint John's Abbey and SJU President Michael Hemesath will be presenting the awards to the men, who each receives a monetary award of $2,500. 

The Caritas Man of Extraordinary Service award was created by an anonymous donor to honor SJU students who excel in the community and reflect the university's Benedictine values. This award is given to students who show dedication to community service and engagement in student, civic and social leadership roles.

Frantz Soiro, a senior chemistry major from Orange, New Jersey, has immersed himself in the community by taking leadership roles both on and off campus. He served as a chemistry tutor and FoCuS Chemistry Mentor for first-year students. Soiro spent much of the summer before his junior year giving tours of the CSB/SJU campuses to prospective students and their families. When he wasn't giving tours, he was volunteering at St. Cloud Hospital. Soiro also helped start Element Dance Club, a hip-hop dance club at College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, and later became the club's president. Apart from his service on campus, Soiro traveled to Guatemala over his spring break for a medical mission trip. He plans to embark on another mission, this time to Tanzania, through the Benedictine Volunteer Corps following graduation.

Ramond Mitchell, a junior theology major from Nassau, the Bahamas, says Saint John's has become his home and an important factor in his life. He began his involvement by serving as student senator, participating in the Men's Spirituality and Spiritual Direction groups, and singing with Campus Ministry, Saint John's Abbey Schola and the Saint John's Men's Chorus. He joined many organizations with missions that mattered to him, including the Cultural Affairs Board, Intercultural Directions Council and First-Years Forward. Mitchell says his courage to become involved in many of these causes stems from the teachings of St. Benedict that he learned while attending classes and interacting with his peers. Mitchell's leadership positions include orientation leader, resident assistant and most recently, elected SJU Senate president for the 2016-17 academic year.

Abdirizak Jama, a sophomore chemistry major, was born in Somalia. His family fled the country due to the civil war and settled in a refugee camp in Kenya for six years. Eventually, he and his family migrated to the U.S. in 2010. Jama became actively involved in community service while he was attending St. Cloud (Minnesota) Technical High School. While in high school, Jama was involved in starting a conflict resolution program, which later won the Partners in Education Award from School District 742. Jama has continued his community service during his time at Saint John's. He now works at the St. Cloud Hospital as a Patient Care Extender. When Jama is not working at the hospital, he can be found participating in Saint John's interfaith dialogues.

Peter Johnson, a first-year political science major from Mendota Heights, Minnesota, started his volunteering while attending Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul. Johnson has focused on helping with issues of hunger and homelessness, as well as participating in various childhood cancer programs as a research participant, speaker and fundraiser. During his time at Saint John's, Johnson has been an active member in the Bonner Leader Program, where he has participated in frequent service events and leadership seminars in the St. Joseph, Minnesota, community. Johnson also works with the CSB Community Kitchen, a meal-delivery program that utilizes surplus food on campus and in the St. Joseph community to disadvantaged persons.