Manor College Photo by James Short.
Manor College held its 21st annual Founders Day on Thursday, January 30.
Founders Day celebrates the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great, who founded Manor College in 1947. The institution remains the only higher education institution in North America founded by Ukrainian Sisters.
The larger celebration, held Thursday, includes a ceremony, prayer service and accompanying reception. Jaime Simpson, the Dean of Allied Health Sciences, served as the day’s keynote speaker.
“This special day serves as a powerful reminder of our community’s roots, the groundbreaking work and the vision that brought this college to life,” Simpson said. “We are here today because of the dedication and forward thinking of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great, whose hard work laid the foundation for Manor College.”
Simpson spoke about the changes that have taken place at the college since its inception, but despite the changes, the core values remained the same.
“The essence of Manor College has remained constant since its founding in 1947,” Simpson said. “The ‘why’ that guided the founding of Manor in 1947 – providing high-quality education – continues to guide us. We continue the mission of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great by fostering educational opportunities for all, grounded in faith and dedicated to the growth and development of our community.”
On Founders Day, the institution also unveils a pair of prestigious awards - the Mother Josaphat Medal and the Educator of the year.
The Mother Josaphat Medal
Natasha Moore, a junior studying Business Administration, received the 2025 Mother Josaphat Medal. The medal is the highest award a student can receive at Manor College, presented to a student who exhibits a responsible lifestyle evidenced through reverence, respect and service.
Moore is a Presidential Ambassador, President of Student Senate, and a member of Rotaract, Phi Theta Kappa and the DEIA book club. She is known around campus as a quiet woman who got involved and found her voice.
“I didn’t know anyone when I first came in and she wasted no time in talking to me and letting it be known she was in my corner,” one nominator wrote.
Finalists for the Mother Josaphat Medal included Lauren Brown, Kyzera Davis, Kareem Haines, George Keelen III and Sofiia Myronovych.
Educator of the Year
Dr. Cherie Crosby-Weeks, a Professor and Program Director of Teacher Education programs at Manor College, was named the 2025 Educator of the Year. Dr. Crosby-Weeks started her Manor College career in 2011. She is the first professor to win the award on multiple occasions.
The Educator of the Year is given to a professor whose dedication and commitment goes beyond the classroom. This student-nominated award honors the selected faculty member who received the most votes.
“She’s always there when I’m in need, no matter what it is, she’s available,” said Davion Chaney, a 2022 Manor College alum who returned for his Bachelor’s Degree this year. “She has patience with her students and understands us through what we are going through. She shows the love and passion that she has for education while teaching.”
Charity Efforts
As part of Founders Day, Manor College conducted a food drive for the institution’s Bird Feed Food Pantry.
The pantry, located on campus, benefits Manor College students in need and their families. It provides a variety of non-perishable food items and basic necessities.
With the help of 21 different community organizations, Manor College collected more than 700 pounds of food for the pantry. It’s an increase of over 125 pounds!
More on the Founding of Manor College
In 1947, St. Macrina College began with 11 students on a mission to educate the underserved. Manor College grew significantly since those humble beginnings. At the center of the institution’s founding were the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great. They founded Manor College following two principal purposes – to establish a four-year liberal arts entity that would advance the professional lives of young women and an entity that would provide educational access to fellow members of their religious order.
Today, Manor College is a four-year institution that continues to provide high-quality educational access and service-based opportunities to students.
