Honored for their work

The sisters’ mission, vision and values shape the work at Holy Wisdom Monastery around community, prayer, hospitality, justice and care for the earth. The sisters, volunteers, coworkers and others work tirelessly to create a peaceful oasis for contemplation, rest and renewal where all are welcome. Over the years this work has been recognized with a variety of awards.

2022

2017

2012

  • Green Professional, Green Masters Program at UW-Madison School of Business

2010

  • 2010 Top Ten LEED Project (#5) from Interiors & Sources Magazine
  • 2010 BUILD Wisconsin Award in the Design Build – New Construction Category from the Association of General Contractors of Wisconsin
  • 2010 Design-Build Award of Merit from the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA)
  • 2010 Best Green Building from Midwest Construction Magazine
  • 2010 Sustainability & Energy Efficient (SE2) Award of Merit from the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance
  • Highest-Rated LEED-NC v 2.2 Building in the United States
  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-New Construction (NC) Platinum Certification from the United States Green Building Council
  • 2009 Top Project Award from Wisconsin Builder Magazine
  • 2009 Aon Build America Merit Award from The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America

2005

  • Creation Care Award, National Religious Partnership for the Environment
  • Dane County Waters Champion Award

2003

  • 2003 Business Forum’s (Dane County) Athena Award

2002

  • Leopold Restoration Award (Virginia M. Kline Award for Excellence in Community-Based Restoration) from the Friends of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum

2000

  • Conservation Award, Downtown Kiwanis, Madison, WI
  • Project Equality Religious Sponsor Award and Millennium Award

1999

  • Project Equality Religious Sponsor Award

1998

  • Wisconsin Business Friend of the Environment Award
  • Women of Distinction Award, YWCA Madison, WI

1997

  • Manfred Swarsensky Humanitarian Service Award, Rotary Club of Madison, WI
  • Investing in People Award, Dane County, WI
  • Yahara Lakes Association Certificate of Appreciation

1996

    • Demonstration Project of the Lake Mendota Priority Watershed

The sisters received the Land Legacy Award from Gathering Waters in July 2022.

The sisters are recognized for more than 60 years of caring for the earth with the Assisi Award from the Society for Conversation Biology in 2017.

In 2010, the sisters received a Platinum Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the US Green Building Council for their eco-friendly monastery. This was the highest rated building in the world for LEED Version 2.2 new construction at the time.