On Sunday, January 15, 2023, Olivia Eaker ’23 was recognized as Incarnate Word Academy’s recipient of the St. Louis Archdiocesan Martin Luther King, Jr. Model of Justice Award during a ceremony at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. The award is presented each year to high school students who have demonstrated, through their attitude and their work, a commitment to serving humanity in the broader community. Olivia’s humble, optimistic, and dedicated approach to improving issues of inclusion within and beyond the IWA community made her the ideal candidate for this award.

Above L-R: Maggie Schurz, Sunnie Hughes ’97, Olivia Eaker ’23, and Sr. Eileen O’Keeffe, CCVI ’59.

Observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial continued the following day as eight IWA students (representing the classes of 2023-2025) partnered with EnergyCare to provide weatherization services to a homeowner in Pagedale, MO. EnergyCare was founded by Sr. Pat Kelley, CCVI ’55 to provide energy-related services in St. Louis communities for low-income households with persons who are elderly, disabled, or chronically ill.

Clark Griffin, Sara Potts, Paige Peyton, Isabel King, Julia Mitchaner, Madalyn Komadina, Aaliyah Rogers, and Mary Kirsch were joined by IWA’s Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Sunnie Hughes ’97, for this “heartwarming” service opportunity.

On the header: IWA students are shown with a happy homeowner who received weatherization services on January 16, 2023.