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WJU to Honor Gonter

Wheeling Jesuit University will bestow its highest honor, the Ignatian Medal, to Sr. Joanne Gonter, VHM, who has spent a lifetime serving the Wheeling community and nurturing the faith of others by sharing her own deep commitment to God and her love for education.

The award will be presented to Gonter during this year’s Gaudiosa, set for April 16 at Wheeling Jesuit’s McDonough Center. Gaudiosa, which is Latin for “joyous feast,” will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails followed by dinner at 7 p.m. WJU alumni, faculty and students, as well as the River City Brass will provide this year’s entertainment.

Gonter, WJU class of 1959 and former student, teacher and superior of the Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy, will receive the medal from her college alma mater during this year’s Gaudiosa, Wheeling Jesuit’s annual scholarship fundraising event.

Given sparingly and with high regard, the Ignatian Medal is reserved for individuals of special accomplishment and awarded to women and men who lead lives based on the ideals championed by the founder of the Society of Jesus-St. Ignatius of Loyola, in whose honor the medal is named.

Gonter is the first to receive the award since 2011 and only the 13th person to receive it since its inception.

“The Ignatian Medal celebrates women and men who, in a superlative fashion, display faith in God, service to others and leadership in their communities. Sr. Joanne embodies all these qualities,” WJU President, Rev. James Fleming, S.J., said

Gonter said receiving the Ignatian Medal is special because it will be presented during Gaudiosa, an event to raise funds for scholarships at the university.

“When the five of us Mount Sisters moved from Wheeling to the Georgetown Visitation community in Washington, D.C., in 2010, we gave funds to Wheeling Jesuit for the Mount de Chantal Scholarship to assist young women with musical ability, academic achievement and a love for community service. We see the Gaudiosa as an opportunity to support that goal – to provide financial assistance for young people to attend Wheeling Jesuit,” she said.

Gonter was a member of the Visitation community in Wheeling from 1952 to 2010 – first as a student, then faculty member and superior of the sisters of Mount de Chantal community. She served as a member of the Visitation council for more than 40 years and as the superior of the Wheeling community for six years.

After graduating from the Mount in 1952, she attended WJU and was a member of the university’s first graduating class – also known as “the co-founders.”

Now living at Georgetown Visitation College Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., Gonter remains connected to Mount graduates while serving as the alumnae director. During her many years at Mount de Chantal, Gonter provided generations of alumnae with educational instruction and spiritual guidance.

As a member of the greater Wheeling community, Gonter is a former chair of the religion and education committee of the Wheeling Hall of Fame board. She also served as the past president of the Sisters’ Council for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.

For more information about purchasing tickets or becoming a sponsor for Gaudiosa, contact coordinator Jasmine Lo at 304-243-8147 or jlo@wju.edu.

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