Celebrating Excellence: 2024 Award Winners 🎉

Gratitude Award

The Gratitude Award was established to honor an individual or family whose generous contributions have enriched the St. Anthony of Padua Community. This year, the award was presented to Fred and Mary Gavin, who joined our parish 42 years ago and have been active parishioners ever since, raising three children in the faith. Both attended Catholic schools and passed on this legacy, as their children attended St. Anthony School and graduated from West Catholic High School.

Fred and Mary’s contributions span decades and reflect their deep Catholic faith. Fred dedicated 42 years to the U.S. Department of Treasury and served as a GVSU adjunct professor, while Mary worked at Kenowa Hills Public Schools after raising their children. In retirement, Fred and Mary stay involved in our community, attending school events, supporting programming, and volunteering.

Mary serves as a Reading Buddy, working with elementary students each week. Together, Fred and Mary co-chaired the Cash Auction and have supported various school initiatives over the years. In 1999, Mary was recognized as West Catholic “Parent of the Year.” Fred has also served on our Home and School Association Board and the Catholic Secondary Board of Education, taking time off to donate a kidney to his sister.

When we considered candidates for this award in 2024, Fred and Mary Gavin were a unanimous choice. Their lives are a beautiful reflection of Jesus’ love, and we are blessed by their generosity and faith-filled example. Thank you, Fred and Mary, for all you do and for the gift of knowing you!

Distinguished Alumni Award

Our community is truly one of a kind, and we must find meaningful ways to acknowledge those who have made a profound impact. With this in mind, we established the Distinguished Alumni Award to ensure that these individuals are celebrated and their contributions recognized.  

The individual honored this year stands out among our staff, parents, and parishioners.  He has always been wise beyond his years – he helped in the office as an elementary student, making calls to classrooms. As a high school student, he was already teaching teachers technology lessons; before graduating, he took on a marketing internship at St. Anthony. 

Today, Ben remains our go-to for so much—technology, marketing, admissions, and fresh ideas. But what truly distinguishes Ben is his profound love for people and his unwavering dedication to our faith community. Regardless of who needs help, Ben is there, responding with a warm smile and a “sure” every time he’s called upon. His heart for service and enthusiasm for making a difference are inspiring to all of us, and we feel blessed to have him in our community. Whether in the office during the week or on the weekends and evenings, he puts his heart and soul into everything he does. He is truly passionate about serving others in our faith community.  We all know him and love him and have likely “asked Ben!”  Ben, we are so grateful for you and the lasting impact you are making on our community!