Ana Belén Guerin '23: Provincial Medal of Honor Winner
As this year’s Commencement ceremony drew to a close, Ana Belén Guerin ’23 began chatting with friends at their seats in the PPL Center. Then, they heard Guerin’s name called.
“All of our heads just whipped back,” she says. “I was in shock. My friends had to tell me to stand up.”
The Very Rev. Jack Kolodziej, provincial of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, presented Guerin with the Provincial Medal of Honor, which is awarded to the graduate who best exemplifies the spirit of St. Francis de Sales.
“Every time I read over the award, it makes me smile. It reinforces my desire to always try my best to be a strong scholar, a strong academic, and strong in my faith.”
During her time as an undergrad, Guerin participated in the nursing scholars program, which allowed her to get a jumpstart on master’s classes during her senior year. She was also involved with campus ministry and the Pro-Life Club.
Guerin’s goal is to become a nurse practitioner, and she’ll continue classes in DeSales’ MSN program while working at Paoli Hospital. Looking back, she says the most important lesson she’s learned during her time at DeSales is to focus on God first.
“You have to have your own personal relationship with God in order to have good personal relationships with others,” she says. “You have to make sure that you’re making time for Him, even if it’s just to say a quick prayer. I keep Him at the center of my life so that everything else can be good as well.”
