President Mike Hagstrom receives award from Saint John’s University

Mike Hagstrom, President of St. John Paul II Catholic Schools, was honored on Friday, April 25, by his alma mater, Saint John’s University, at the annual “Saint John’s Day” festivities on the Collegeville, Minnesota campus. 

With seven fellow alumni who also serve as Catholic school leaders in the region, Mike received the prestigious Colman J. Barry Award for Distinguished Contributions to Religion and Society. 

The award was established in 1995 to honor the religious, educational, and cultural legacy of Fr. Colman, a Benedictine monk of Saint John’s Abbey, Church historian, University president, and advocate of numerous initiatives to promote the love of learning and the desire for God. 

Previous awardees include scholar Jaroslav Pelikan, architect Marcel Breuer, novelist John Hassler, poet Kathleen Norris, calligrapher Donald Jackson, and art aficionado Sr. Wendy Beckett.  

According to the award citation, Fr. Colman “was a stalwart champion of Catholic Education…and knew well the fundamental precept of Catholic teaching: That every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. In celebration of our Catholic faith and Benedictine heritage Saint John’s honors a distinguished group of alumni who follow nobly in Fr. Colman’s footsteps. We salute you for your commitment and devotion to Catholic education and your leadership within the Academy. You embrace and carry forth the critically important mission of Catholic schools: To educate the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—with an emphasis on faith, service, moral integrity, and Gospel values.” 

Other school leaders honored with Mike included John Buethe, Vice President of St. Thomas Academy; Brian Edel, Principal of DeLaSalle High School; David Fremo, President of St. Cloud Catholic Community Schools; Craig Junker, President of Totino-Grace High School; Jon McGee, Head of School at Saint John’s Preparatory School; Jeb Myers, President of Cretin-Derham Hall High School; and Brian Ragatz, Head of School at St. Thomas Academy. 

Mike is completing his ninth year of service as President of St. John Paul II Catholic Schools and Director of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Fargo. Prior to those roles, he taught Religion and served in other leadership capacities at Shanley High School for 31 years. Mike earned his B.A. in English and M.A. in Systematic Theology from Saint John’s University. He and his wife, Shawn, have two children (Therese ’08 and Joseph ’16) and two grandchildren (James and Oliver).