Sept. 4, 2024
Contact Chris Sanger at 608-796-3070 or cmsanger@viterbo.edu
VITERBO UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE SAINT JOHN XXIII AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Jim Bagniewski, Pat and Linda Kerrigan, and Steve Tanke, all of whom have a long and impressive history of community service and giving back to others, are the 2024 recipients of the Viterbo University Saint John XXIII Award for Distinguished Service. The awards will be presented at a banquet and ceremony on campus Thursday, Sept. 19.
The Saint John XXIII Award is the highest non-academic award bestowed by Viterbo University. Recipients are chosen on the basis of contributions in one or several of the following categories: education, business, philanthropy, peace and justice, and religious life.
The 2024 recipients:
Jim Bagniewski
Longtime School District of La Crosse and Viterbo University educator and administrator Jim Bagniewski believes people are meant to help each other, and he strives to make a difference in the lives of others through a wide variety of community service.
Bagniewski has been the chair of Bluffside Neighborhood Association for the past ten years and also serves on the Mayor’s Neighborhood Revitalization Commission, the All Neighborhood Association, and as the Mobile Meals Board secretary. He was recently elected to the La Crosse School Board.
A member and Chair of the Roncalli Newman Catholic Church Parish Council for many years, Bagniewski has helped host the Welcome Back Sunday Picnic for students, Holy Thursday Dinner, the annual Thanksgiving potluck, and other social events. He is a past member of the boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse, Parenting Place, FSPA’s Justice & Peace, the La Crosse Public Education Foundation, and La Crosse Nonprofits Incorporated.
For his extensive volunteer work with theExchange La Crosse Area Furniture Bank, Bagniewski received a WXOW Jefferson Award in 2021. He has also been involved with the community gardens, spent time working for Habitat for Humanity, and served as a substitute math teacher for the La Crosse School District.
Internationally, Bagniewski collects books for the organizations of Books for Africa & Africa Strong, and has made two trips to Uganda. He and his wife Carolyn hosted two students from Luxembourg this past year.
“I just like to help out where I can,” he said.
Pat and Linda Kerrigan
Described as “faithful, generous, and kind,” Pat and Linda Kerrigan have spent their lives practicing the Franciscan values of hospitality and peacemaking. Whether it be inviting old or new friends/acquaintances to their house for dinner to share a meal, serving as mentors for local youth, or hosting international guests for a few days, weeks, or even years, the door to the Kerrigan home is always open to anyone needing a place to feel included and welcomed.
Their passion for all things international began with a joint Peace Corps assignment teaching English in South Korea as newlyweds, and since then they have embraced learning from and forming friendships with people of other diverse backgrounds and cultures.
The couple also has invested themselves in community service. In the past, Pat and Linda have served on the La Crescent Applefest Board, parochial and public school boards, and have participated in Catholic parish ministry and FSPA homeless initiatives. Pat has been a board member of Family and Children’s Center, La Crosse Mental Health Coalition, Riverfront, United Way, and Marywood Spirituality Center. Additionally, he was a charter member and served as president of La Crescent Rotary and received the Paul Harris Fellow Award. Linda has volunteered at the Franciscan Spirituality Center, La Crosse Jail Ministry, and La Crosse Area Restorative Justice Program. Currently, they volunteer with La Crescent Neighbors in Action and Salvation Army.
The Kerrigans have provided financial support to Franciscan Spirituality Centers, as well as the FSPA Peace Garden, scholarships, and other initiatives at Viterbo University, Pat’s longtime former employer.
Steve Tanke
La Crosse has been incredibly good to Steve Tanke and his wife Suzanne, and it has been his pleasure to give back to the community in return. A long list of area charitable and civic organizations has benefitted from his leadership, volunteerism, and financial support.
Tanke has been a driver for Mobile Meals for more than 25 years, helps with the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign by delivering kettles to various sites, and has been a member of numerous ad hoc committees. He is a past board President of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, the La Crosse Family YMCA (now a trustee), and the American Red Cross. He was also a board member with Coulee Recovery, La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, Aquinas Schools Foundation, Franciscan Spirituality Center, La Crosse Downtown Rotary, and was the inaugural co-chair of the La Crosse Mental Health Coalition. Tanke has served in various capacities with his church and on numerous community committees.
The Tankes have provided financial support to the YMCA, Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Clubs, Coulee Recovery, La Crosse Community Foundation, various other area nonprofit organizations, and their church.
Community service and giving back is an extension of Tanke’s faith. The former owner of Klein Insurance Group and Mid-City Steel, he finds being involved and solving problems to be very rewarding.
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