Mission Makers: Amanda Conger

May 25, 2021
By: Father Benet Phillips, O.S.B.

After waiting for a year, the Class of 2020 was able to celebrate their graduation from Saint Anselm on Sunday, May 16, 2021 not only with pomp and circumstance but with a great deal of pride, joy, and gratitude for coming through a year of unprecedented upheaval with renewed determination, a sense of hope and purpose -- with heads held high as alumnus and Commencement speaker Sean Conner ’20 cheered on the Class of 2020 as “back to back graduation champions.”

One of the graduates of the Class of 2020 is Amanda Conger. During his Presidential address at Commencement, President Favazza noted, “Amanda won the 2020 Hockey Humanitarian Award just after the pandemic struck. She selflessly donated a kidney to Cameron Ouellette, a local man she met in her native Vermont as an intern. She found out she was a donor match and never waived. If ever there was definition of Anselmian, Amanda would be right up there with…. well, St. Anselm. Thank you, Amanda.”

Amid thunderous applause, Amanda’s classmates, family and friend acknowledged the selfless gift that Amanda gave to Cameron. The Hockey Humanitarian Award is given each year to college hockey’s finest citizen — a student-athlete who makes significant contributions not only to his or her team, but also to the community-at-large through leadership in volunteerism.

According to the Hockey Humanitarian Award website, “Conger has responded from the intense medical procedure, skating in a career-high 32 games in her senior season posting 13 points (3g, 10a). She played in a program-record 116 games in her four years with the Hawks, registering 72 points (31g, 41a). She missed only two games in her four years with the team.”

“I truly believe it is Amanda’s outlook on life to make the most of all her opportunities and not take life for granted,” remarked her Head Coach, Kerstin Matthews. “It takes a special person to be so selfless to add a physical challenge of this degree right before her senior year. It is amazing to see how this young woman has touched so many lives – what’s more, she doesn’t see it in terms of what she has done for them, but rather what they have done for her.”

Amanda personifies what it means to be an Anselmian. A dedicated student athlete, a generous friend, someone who goes the extra mile without looking back or counting the cost. “I am in complete and utter awe by the fact that I was considered a nominee for this prestigious award,” said Conger. “I was in even more awe that I was a finalist, let alone the recipient. I feel extremely honored and am humbled just by the thought of it.”

Thanks to Amanda, the mission of Saint Anselm lives on… literally.