Viterbo University celebrates community leaders with Saint John XXIII Award
Viterbo University honoured five community members Thursday evening with its highest non‑academic distinction, the Saint John XXIII Award for Distinguished Service, recognising decades of contribution to civic life and the common good. The recipients were Bill and Cindy Berg, Msgr. Joe Hirsch, Chris Sanger and Mary Jo Werner, according to a news brief published by News 8 Now.
The award, established in 1975, is presented annually by the La Crosse, Wisconsin, institution to individuals nominated by members of their communities. With the 2026 recipients, Viterbo has now honoured 183 people for work spanning education, business, philanthropy, peace and justice, and religious life.
Dr. Rick Trietley, president of Viterbo University, described the event as the university’s “annual signature event” and underscored the selection committee’s focus on sustained commitment to family and community welfare. He told attendees the nominations come from community members and the process aims to identify people who “go above and beyond” in service to others.
“It’s a nomination process, so we take in nominations from community members. We’re looking for individuals who go above and beyond in serving their families, their communities… and really taking care of the common good in society.” — Dr. Rick Trietley
Why this matters to Saint John
While the award ceremony took place in La Crosse, the recognition of community service resonates across cities and provinces, including Saint John. Civic honours such as the Saint John XXIII Award:
- Highlight long‑term community commitment, offering public acknowledgment to people whose work may otherwise go largely unnoticed;
- Encourage civic participation by providing visible role models for volunteering, philanthropy and public service;
- Reinforce institutional ties between universities and their communities, signalling that academic institutions value contributions outside classroom and research pursuits.
For readers in Saint John, the Viterbo awards are a reminder of local practices in honouring service and the potential for educational institutions to champion civic values. Many Atlantic Canadian communities maintain their own traditions of recognising volunteers, non‑profit leaders and civic actors; those traditions sustain social networks and motivate sustained engagement.
Selection and significance
The selection process at Viterbo, as described by university leadership, involves public nominations and deliberation to narrow candidates to a small number of honourees each year. Trietley said the challenge is selecting only three to five recipients from many deserving nominees, an indication of vibrant volunteer cultures in the region the university serves.
Viterbo’s award categories cover a broad range of contributions — from education and business to peace and justice — which mirrors how many communities understand public service: not limited to elected office or paid roles but including informal, religious and philanthropic work that buttresses daily life.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Award | Saint John XXIII Award for Distinguished Service |
| Established | 1975 |
| 2026 recipients | Bill and Cindy Berg; Msgr. Joe Hirsch; Chris Sanger; Mary Jo Werner |
| Total honoured (to 2026) | 183 individuals |
The coverage from News 8 Now emphasised both the ceremonial aspects of the banquet on campus and the wider purpose of the award: to celebrate individuals who “take care of the common good.” For Saint John readers, the story offers an opportunity to consider how local recognition programs operate, who they highlight and what values they reflect.
Ultimately, civic honours such as Viterbo’s serve as social signals: they recognise effort, shape public memory, and can inspire others to sustained volunteerism. Whether in La Crosse or Saint John, those signals contribute to how communities prize service and the many forms it takes.
