Celebration of the Century Award Recipients Announced

Dear Resurrection community,

We are pleased to announce we have selected Sr. Donna Marie C. Wolowicki, C.R., Class of 1966 as the inaugural Charity and Truth Service Award recipient, and Ms. Emily Masalski, Class of 1998 as the inaugural Resurrection Women Leader Award.
The Charity and Truth Service Award recognizes an alumna or member of the Resurrection community who embodies the Sisters of the Resurrection motto of Charity and Truth, and the Christian Brothers' motto of Facere et Docere (to do and teach). The recipient is recognized as a pillar of their community, contributes to positive change, and champions women’s issues and concerns through professional or volunteer work women.

Sr. Donna Marie C. Wolowicki, C.R., ‘66 has dedicated nearly her entire life to Resurrection College Prep and the Sisters of the Resurrection. As a student at Resurrection, Sr. Donna became a postulant her junior year making a commitment to enter into religious life after graduation. Not only did Sr. Donna enter into religious life after graduation, she also enrolled in the nursing program at Loyola University Chicago. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1971 and her Master of Science in Nursing in 1975. She started her career in the intensive care unit at Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago. Sr. Donna spent her entire professional career at Resurrection Medical Center eventually becoming the CEO in 1991 and spending the next twenty-two years as CEO. In 2013, she left her position as CEO to become the President of Resurrection College Prep. 

As President of Resurrection College Prep, Sr. Donna led the school through many facility and curriculum changes. Sr. Donna also led the process to transition the ownership of the school from the Sisters of the Resurrection to the Christian Brothers of the Midwest in May 2019. 

The Resurrection Women Leader Award recognizes an alumna who has excelled professionally in contributing to significant change at an organization and/or industry and the advancement of women in their field. The alumna is a role model who encourages others to dream big. As a RES student, the alumna showed commitment to Resurrection through participation in extracurricular activities, athletics, and community service. 

Our inaugural Resurrection Women Leader Award recipient is Emily N. Masalski ‘98. After graduating from Resurrection, Emily attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Environmental Communications & Education. Following graduation from the University of Illinois, Emily relocated to New York to pursue her dream of becoming an environmental lawyer. She received her J.D. and Environmental Law Certificate from Pace University School of Law in 2005. 

Emily’s commitment to environmental law and the advancement of women in the profession, as well as society, is clear through her numerous accolades. Emily currently serves as Counsel – Regulatory & Sustainability for Eaton Corporation, a global power management company. Eaton is dedicated to improving people’s lives and the environment with power management technologies that are more reliable, efficient, safe and sustainable. She focuses on environmental, health & safety (EHS); environmental, social, and governance (ESG); product safety, compliance and stewardship; North America and Mexico real estate matters; and regulatory compliance for the Eaton aerospace, eMobility, and vehicle groups.

One example of her contributions to women and the law is when she drafted the Lactation Accommodation in Airports Act in Illinois (410 ILCS 140/), which became law in 2015 and requires reasonable access to lactation rooms in airports.  She also testified at public hearings and supported initiatives to expand lactation accommodations for nursing mothers in courthouses, public venues, and workplaces. 

As a student, Emily was the class vice president her senior year, active in Quill & Scroll, the RES Banner, Captain of the soccer team, and co-Captain of the Notre Dame College Prep cheerleading squad. As an alumna, Emily has helped organize reunions, participated in career day, and served on the President’s Search committee. Emily currently resides in Oak Park with her husband, Brian and their two children. 

Please watch for more information on our recipients as we continue to honor them throughout the month of April and the night of the Celebration of the Century. If you would like to recognize the recipients for their achievements, consider honoring them with our $250 sponsorship and attending the Celebration of the Century on April 29, 2023, at Resurrection from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. Contact Ms. Tracie Ortman at tortman@reshs.org or 773-775-6616 with any questions.