Amanda Sue Rohdenburg of Sunapee, N.H., wins Henault Award & graduates from Saint Michael's College

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Saint Michael’s Political Science Professor Patricia Siplon gives Henault Award to Amanda Rohdenburg.

COLCHESTER, VT (05/23/2011)(readMedia)-- Amanda Sue Rohdenburg, daughter of Jennie Louzan of Sunapee and Brad Lohdenburg of Meredith, earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science and in gender studies, from Saint Michael's College at ceremonies held May 16 on the campus of the liberal arts Catholic college located in the Burlington area of Vermont.

Ms. Rohdenburg also earned the Marie Henault Award given to the senior woman "whose work and attitude, whose intellect and dedication reflect Marie Henault's own serious commitment to the life of the mind informed by deep moral and ethical seriousness."

James Wall, a 1974 graduate of Saint Michael's, and now global managing director of human resources for Deloitte Touche Tomatsu, a multinational corporation with 2,000 partners and over 100,000 employees, was the featured speaker at the Saint Michael's College 104th commencement. "The value of a liberal-arts education at Saint Michael's College has never been more relevant than it is today – never," he declared. "My Saint Michael's experience taught me how to learn. Nothing is more important in today's world." Wall served on the college's board of trustees for 12 years, four of those as chairman.

Some 435 undergraduates received bachelor's degrees at the ceremony as well as 95 graduate students who earned master's degrees.

Henault Award to Amanda Rohdenburg

Amanda Rohdenburg has excelled in two academic majors and has brought commitment to every aspect of her life, said Dr. Patricia Siplon, professor of political science in presenting Henault Award to her.

"Amanda has worked hard to empower women to make decisions about their own lives," said Professor Siplon. She is not only an outstanding student, she serves on the advisory board of the SMC Women's Center and she volunteers at the Burlington Women's Rape Crisis Center. She is also a leader in the very rigorous SMC Wilderness program, through which she created a women's rock climbing program. "Which I took part in," said Professor Siplon.

Ms. Rohdenburg is working with a group of 25 Saint Michael's students and alumni on the Millenium Development Goals book, for which she is traveling to Rwanda to do research on gender empowerment. "She is so very richly deserving of this award," said Professor Siplon.

Learn What Matters at Saint Michael's College, The Edmundite Catholic liberal arts college, www.smcvt.edu . Saint Michael's provides education with a social conscience, producing graduates with the intellectual tools to lead successful, purposeful lives that will contribute to peace and justice in our world. Founded in 1904 by the Society of St. Edmund and headed by President John J. Neuhauser, Saint Michael's College is located three miles from Burlington, Vermont, one of America's top college towns. It is identified by the Princeton Review as one of the nations Best 371 Colleges, and is included in the 2011 Fiske Guide to Colleges. Saint Michael's is one of only 280 colleges and universities nationwide, one of only 20 Catholic colleges, with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Saint Michael's has 1,900 undergraduate students, some 500 graduate students and 100 international students. Saint Michael's students and professors have received Rhodes, Woodrow Wilson, Pickering, Guggenheim, Fulbright, and other grants. The college is one of the nation's top-100, Best Liberal Arts Colleges as listed in the 2011 U.S. News & World Report rankings.