February 7, 2011
The Catholic University of America will give out a special award this spring as part of the celebration of President John Garvey's inaugural year theme "Intellect and Virtue: The Idea of a Catholic University."The Cardinal Medal for Fortitude will be awarded at an April 13 ceremony to CUA faculty, staff, and students who exemplify the cardinal virtue of fortitude. Members of the CUA community were invited to nominate those who have overcome adversity with a joyful spirit, exhibit constancy in the pursuit of good, stand firm in difficulty, and exemplify quiet strength. "There are many inspiring stories all around us," says Bill Jonas, director of campus activities and one of the coordinators for the event. "The Cardinal Medal for Fortitude serves as a reminder of the power of faith and persistence in the face of often incredible challenges," notes Jonas. "Individuals who overcome tremendous obstacles often are unnoticed and unknown. Respectfully recognizing individuals through the Cardinal Medal for Fortitude will hopefully raise awareness about the powerful spirit that exists in our community."The ceremony is part of a campaign on campus to accentuate the four cardinal virtues. The month of April will be dedicated to the cardinal virtue of fortitude. The virtues campaign is directly related to the inaugural year theme chosen by Garvey.
For more information about the cardinal virtues, visit http://president.cua.edu/inauguration/virtues.cfm .