521 students to graduate at
Catholic colleges in archdiocese

Students, families and educators will join in the celebration as the three Catholic colleges in the archdiocese hold their graduation ceremonies in May.

Marian College

With 366 degrees being conferred, Marian College in Indianapolis will have the largest graduating class in its history when it holds its commencement on May 6 at 2 p.m.

The commencement address will be given by John C. Lechleiter, the president and chief operating officer of Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis.

A member of St. Matthew Parish in Indianapolis, Lechleiter will be among three people receiving an honorary degree from Marian College. The father of three will receive an honorary doctor of business administration degree.

Marian will also present honorary doctor of humanities degrees to Andrew Steffen and Norma Winkler.

Steffen is a retired Indianapolis attorney who has a great passion for the arts and Catholic education. At Marian, Steffen has created the Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter Memorial Endowed Scholarship to provide scholarships for students in education and the arts.

Winkler will be recognized for her generosity to many people and organizations in Indianapolis. At Marian, she has established the Elmer L. Winkler Scholarship Fund in honor of her late husband. She has served on the boards and councils of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, St. Mary’s Child Center and St. Luke Parish, all in Indianapolis.

Marian’s first commencement was held in 1938.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

For years, John Etling worked as an art teacher while also serving as the executive director of Catholic Charities in Terre Haute. His appreciation for education and his compassion for humanity left a mark on many people’s lives—a result he hopes to achieve again when he serves as the speaker at commencement for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on May 6.

Etling will speak to the 130 members of the graduating class during the ceremony, which will begin at 2 p.m. in the Cecilian Auditorium of the college’s Conservatory of Music.

While Etling will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree, his wife, Pat, will be honored with the college’s 2006 Distinguished Alumna Award. She is the assistant executive director and fiscal officer of Catholic Charities of Terre Haute and the director of the organization’s food bank.

The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in February.

Saint Meinrad School of Theology

Twenty-five students are expected to receive master’s degrees when Saint Meinrad holds its commencement on May 13 at 2 p.m.

The ceremony will take place in the archabbey’s St. Bede Theater, where graduates will receive degrees that include Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies and Master of Arts in Catholic Thought and Life.

The commencement address will be given by Bishop J. Peter Sartain, a 1974 graduate of Saint Meinrad, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock in Arkansas. †