Knights of Columbus at SMU earns top award

The Brother Elzear Council 5202 of the Knights of Columbus at Saint Mary’s has earned the distinction of “Double Star Council” for the 2008–2009 fraternal year. This distinction is the organization’s top award.

In correspondence received from Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson by Nate Kuhn, Grand Knight of the council and a senior at Saint Mary’s, Anderson stated, “…You and your council have gone above and beyond your membership quota and have attained at least 200 percent growth, thus making you a “Double Star Council.” Your council was one of only around 400 councils that received the elite “Double Star Council” recognition…”

“ ‘The Double Star Council Award’ is an extraordinary honor for our council and its members,” said Kuhn. “We are extremely proud of this accomplishment. It reflects onto the entire Saint Mary’s community.”

The award, the highest distinction any council can realize, recognizes overall excellence in the areas of membership and insurance growth as well as programming activities.

In addition, Council 5202 was awarded the Columbian Award for outstanding effort in conducting at least 20 service program activities (four in each category: church, community, council, family, and youth), the Father McGivney Award for outstanding recruitment and retention efforts, and finally the Founders’ Award for excellence in insurance promotion and attainment of the council’s insurance quota.

With more than 1.78 million members, the Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic lay organization. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, the community, families, and young people.