Established in 1985, the William D. Reynolds Award is conferred on an alumnus/alumna (living or deceased) doing exceptional work with youth for the betterment of the quality of life.
Past Recipients
The 2008 William D. Reynolds Award winner is:
Michael Sennett '91
Michael Sennett ’91 is honored posthumously with the 2008 William D. Reynolds Award for his exceptional work with young athletes. A captain of the 1991 Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team, Mike coached the DeSmet Jesuit High School team for 16 seasons and became a luminary figure in national lacrosse circles through his tireless passion for the sport. He passed away in April 2007.
After graduation, Mike founded and volunteered as head coach of the lacrosse program at DeSmet, one of the first schools to play lacrosse in Missouri. He quickly became one of the most successful and highly regarded coaches in the state, and was named an inaugural inductee in the Missouri Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2005.
Under Mike’s tutelage, DeSmet earned six state championships over 16 seasons. A demanding--yet caring--leader, Mike inspired several of his former players to give back by coaching lacrosse at the youth and high school levels.
Mike’s passion for the game transcended DeSmet and touched the entire St. Louis community, thanks to the leagues, camps, and clinics he began for youth and high school-level lacrosse players. He most recently founded a lacrosse program at Matthews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club in downtown St. Louis, where he made a difference in the lives of countless young people.
In addition to his full-time job at Northwestern Mutual and lacrosse coaching duties, Mike served as a volunteer firefighter for the Boles Fire Protection District and was an active member of St. Clement’s Parish. Nearly 3,300 people attended his funeral Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis—a testament to his widespread influence on the lives of others.
Past William D. Reynolds Award winners:
2007 Michael J. Kennelly ’85
2006 David Cleary '63
2005 Rev. Alfred F. D'Alonzo, C.S.C.'49, '60 M.A.
2004 Dr. Joseph A. DiCara '82
2003 Darrell R. Gordon '88, '89 M.S.A.
2002 Hon. Jeanne M. Jourdan '75 J.D.
2001 Elizabeth Bird '91
2000 Benjamin F. Finley Jr. '60
1999 Thomas A. Jaeb '56
1998 William V. Mollihan, M.D. '59
1997 Willie G. Lipscomb Jr. '75 J.D.
1996 Michael D. Williams '72
1995 Eugene D. Fanning '53
1994 Rev. Andre Leveille, C.S.C. '77 M.Th.
1993 George A. Scheuer '28, '75 M.Th.
1992 Lawrence F. Hickey '42
1991 Sr. M. Jean Lenz, OSF '67 M.Th.
1990 Dennis P. Cantwell, M.D. '61
1989 Daniel R. Harshman '68, '69 M.A.
1988 Rev. Donald P. McNeill, C.S.C. '58
1987 Rev. Robert F. Griffin, C.S.C. '49, '58 M.A.
1986 Frederic C. Shadley '48
1985 Lawrence H. Wentz '59
