Andrew White Medal
presented to Sr. Annette Beecham, OSP - Superior General of the Oblate Sisters of Providence
by Dr. David Haddad, VP of Academic Affairs of Loyola
Loyola College in Maryland

Maryland Day 2007

March 23, 2007

Each year Loyola College honors distinguished individuals who have contributed significantly to the culture of the State of Maryland by presenting them with the Andrew White Medal.   In 2007 the honorees included:

Sister Mary Annette Beecham, OSP
Superior General, Oblate Sisters of Providence

Rebecca Hoffberger
Founder, American Visionary Art Museum

Walter D. Pinkard, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Colliers Pinkard Company, Inc.
President, The France-Merrick Foundation

Reverend Dr. Frank M. Reid, III
Senior Pastor, Bethel AME Church

Below are the remarks of Dr. Haddad honoring Sr. Annette:

Loyola College in Maryland
MARYLAND DAY 2007
Script Excerpt
March 23, 2007

HADDAD:          

WE CONTINUE TODAY’S CEREMONY WITH THE AWARDING OF THE ANDREW WHITE MEDAL.

IN 1961 THE FIRST ANDREW WHITE MEDAL WAS STRUCK TO HONOR MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE CONSCIENTIOUS AND UNSELFISH EFFORTS MAKE THE STATE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.    

A COPY OF THE MEDAL CITATION CAN BE FOUND IN YOUR PROGRAM.  

MORE THAN 150 MEN AND WOMEN HAVE RECEIVED THIS HONOR IN THE PAST 46 YEARS, AND THEIR NAMES ALSO MAY BE FOUND IN YOUR PROGRAM. 

WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF THEM WHO IS HERE TODAY:

DR. JOHN M. DENNIS, WHO RECEIVED HIS MEDAL IN 1982.

THANK YOU FOR RETURNING TO LOYOLA AND FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. 

OUR FIRST MEDAL IS AWARDED TO SISTER MARY ANNETTE BEECHAM OF THE OBLATE (AH-BLATE) SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE.   WILL YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD.  

MORE THAN THREE DECADES BEFORE AMERICA’S EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS ISSUED, A COURAGEOUS GROUP OF FREE BLACK WOMEN IN BALTIMORE DECLARED THEIR OWN UNIQUE INDEPENDENCE.

BOUND BY THEIR CATHOLIC FAITH AND A BURNING COMMITMENT TO SERVE ALL MEMBERS OF THE THRIVING PORT CITY OF BALTIMORE, THE WOMEN ESTABLISHED THE OBLATE SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE IN 1829.

THEIRS WAS THE FIRST CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS ORDER FOR WOMEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT.

THEN, AS NOW, THEIR MISSION TO EDUCATE AND CARE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DISADVANTAGED, REMAINS AN ENDURING ING LIGHT FOR EQUALITY, FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.

SR. MARY ANNETTE BEECHAM, THE ORDER’S 18TH SUPERIOR, HAS FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES COMMITTED HER LIFE TO SHAPING HER RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY’S ESSENTIAL VOCATION FOR A NEW GENERATION.

A GRADUATE OF THE OBLATE SISTERS’ FLAGSHIP SCHOOL, ST. FRANCES ACADEMY OF BALTIMORE, SHE HAS SERVED AS A TEACHER AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, A FORMATION DIRECTOR AND, SINCE 2001, SUPERIOR GENERAL.

UPHOLDING A PROFOUND BELIEF IN THE POWER OF FAITH AND JUSTICE, SHE LEADS A RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY ENGAGED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL AND SPIRITUAL VOCATIONS.

LOYOLA COLLEGE IS PROUD TO HAVE ENJOYED A LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. FRANCES ACADEMY, THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING AFRICAN-AMERICAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE PARTNERSHIP HAS IMMEASURABLY ENRICHED LOYOLA.


FOR HER STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO A LIFE OF FAITH AND SERVICE….

FOR HER TIRELESS WORK ON BEHALF OF BALTIMORE’S CHILDREN…

AND FOR BRINGING DISTINCTION TO BALTIMORE AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND…

LOYOLA COLLEGE IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE ANDREW WHITE MEDAL TO SR. MARY ANNETTER BEECHAM OF THE OBLATE SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE.