Sarah Schmit
  • Class of 2017
  • Eden Prairie, MN

Sarah Schmit Graduates from Benedictine College

2017 May 31

Sarah Schmit of Eden Prairie, MN was part of the largest graduating class in the 159 year history of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. Schmit earned a BS in Biology.

In addition to a diploma, each of the 440 graduates received a Fatima medal blessed by Pope Francis. The medals recognized the 100th anniversary of the first appearance by the Virgin Mary to the shepherd children at Fatima, Portugal, on May 13, 1917.

The keynote address came from Clare Vanderpool, an award-winning children's author whose books have won the Newbery Medal and Printz Honor. Hailing from Wichita, she is the first native-Kansan Newbery Medalist.

"I am confident that you all have wonderful roads, wonderful stories ahead of you," she said in her speech. "You will go on to do great things, I have no doubt. But truly great things always start with little things. Little gestures, encounters, graces. And it's all the little things that make up life."