911±¬ÁÏÍø

The Sister Frances Marie Manning, S.S.M.N. Award for Excellence in Literary Study

The Sister Frances Marie Manning, S.S.M.N. Award for Excellence in Literary Study

The Sister Frances Marie Manning, S.S.M.N. Award for Excellence in Literary Study

Sr Frances Marie ManningThe Manning Award, presented each year by the English Department to a graduating senior, is named in honor of Sister Frances Marie Manning, one of the original members of the faculty of the department. As Associate Professor, Sister Frances served the University with dedication from 1956 until her retirement in 1985.  The cash award recognizes the achievement of a student whose work and whose presence as a member of their class has been consistently outstanding.

Sister Frances was a religious sister of the missionary order of The Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur, an order dedicated to education, and one instrumental in the founding of the 911±¬ÁÏÍø.  A brilliant student who held a B.A., a B.S. in Library Science, an M.A., and a PhD from the University of Ottawa, Sister Frances was also a poet, a member of the Shakespeare and Renaissance Societies of America, Campus Director of Canon Law Institute for Sisters, and a member of the National Council for Teachers of English.  She delivered many professional papers on a variety of subjects and received fellowships to study abroad, all while lovingly teaching her students at the University of Dallas for over 29 years.  Sister Frances died in 2000.

An Affirmation


Of course He chose! We
     should not question why.
He saw the Seedling sink its
     tendons deep.
He watched as rocky soil
     impeded growth.
He gazed upon leaves so prone
     to be
The victim whom chance misfavored
     by its choice
Of situations tempered most for blight.
He saw and what He saw He
     loved.  He chose
The bloom that promised naught
     apart from Him
And His solicitous engendering care.
He chose and meek responsive bud bowed low.

- Sr. Frances M. Manning, S.S.M.N.

Past Manning Award Recipients

1985     Melissa Marie Stewart      
1986     Gary D. Thomas
1987     Judith Ann Hagley
1988     Lisa Caughlin
1989     Clinton Brand
1990     Tracy Eileen Rogers
1991     Nicole Hurzeler
1992     Julia Ann Bowen
1993     Kevin Michael Saylor
1994     Jean Ann Kirwin
1995     Heatherlynn Waldo
1996     Karla Castro-Frenzel
1997     Justin Alan Torres
1998     Daniel R. Gibbons & Daniel Thomas Kennelly
1999     Sarah S. Halverson
2000     Shannon Bralick
2001     William John Junker
2002     Cheryl Ann Miller
2003     Elizabeth M. Cowan
2004     Jane R. Fiegenschue
2005     Anna Marie Breuer
2006     Mary Christine Kolner
2007     Sara Ashley Wood
2008     Joseph D. Boyne & Katherine I. Collins
2009     Mary Patricia Jones
2010     Jocelyn Selle Malone & Mary Elizabeth Schuhriemen
2011     Therese Marie Couture & Joseph Edward Simmons
2012     Edward S. Turner IV
2013     Anna Sasha Kaladish
2014     Evan Michael Hierholzer & Christina Marie Witkowski
2015     Monica Faith Dickson & Alexa Nicole Turczynski
2016     Ann Clara Kuehl
2017     Molly Elizabeth Wierman
2018     Mara Therese Borer & Theresa Marie Guin
2019    Genevieve Marie Frank
2020    Rose Marie Dougherty and Maria Therese Rossini
2021    Jasmine Alexis Adams and Joseph Xavier Boyle
2022    Edward T. Gramling