WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University student-athletes have always been encouraged to excel as both students and athletes.
 
That was never more evident than Tuesday afternoon, when the university unveiled its 2022 Outstanding Seniors as part of the annual Founders' Day Convocation.
 
Four of the 10 finalists for the awards, presented to a male and female senior who have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership, service to colleagues and the university community, as well as genuine concern for the needs of others, were student-athletes — Jordan Keeley (St. Peter, Minn.) and Jordan Modjeski (South Lyon, Mich.) from the women's hockey team, and Jack Hatton (Naperville, Ill.) and Trevor Paradise (Colorado Springs, Colo.) from the men's hockey team.
 
And two of those four — Keeley and Paradise — made it an "outstanding" student-athlete sweep, as the pair were named SMU's Outstanding Female and Male Seniors.
 
"It was incredible to have four of our Cardinal student-athletes up for this prestigious award, and for Jordan Keeley and Trevor Paradise to both be awarded the top honor was simply a great day for Saint Mary's and Cardinal athletics," said SMU athletic director Brian Sisson. "All four represent what Cardinal athletics and Saint Mary's is all about — young men and women leaders, who exhibit great character, leadership, and academic excellence, and aim to serve others and make the world a better place."
 
A double major in pre-physical therapy/biology and leadership — a first for a
Saint Mary's student — Keeley has been a four-year regular on the Saint Mary's women's hockey team, and is one of five finalists for the national Hockey Humanitarian Award. She is also president of the Saint Teresa and Peter Leadership Club, and is the leader of the Green Bandana Project's mental health campaign on campus. Keeley is involved in intramurals and is a member of the Intentional Acts of Kindness Club, Buddies, and the Tri-Beta and Delta Epsilon Sigma honor societies. On the Student Senate, Keeley represents the halls of Saint Yon's, Saint Benilde, and Gilmore Creek. She has worked on campus as an orientation leader, executive orientation leader, and peer tutor for the upper-division science courses. During the summer of 2021, Keeley ran/walked 250 miles in 100 days to raise money for the Saint Mary's Benefit, formerly known as the Taylor Richmond Benefit.
 
"What a great honor to have two of the five Outstanding Female Senior finalists be members of our women's hockey program," said Cardinal women's hockey head coach Sarah Murray. "Jordan Keeley is so deserving of being named Outstanding Female Senior. She has done so much during her time at Saint Mary's — both on the ice and off."
 
A finance and management major, Paradise has spent the past four seasons as a member of the Saint Mary's men's hockey team. He was inducted into the Delta Mu Delta national honor society of business students during his junior year and received the 2021 Scholarship Judges' Award, which is presented each year to an outstanding student of business. He is also a member of the Delta Epsilon Sigma national scholastic honor society for Catholic institutions. Paradise also was employed on campus as an ice rink monitor and student engagement officer for alumni relations.
 
"Our program couldn't be prouder of both Trevor and Jack — our two Outstanding Male Senior nominees — and to have Trevor named the top male senior is truly a deserving honor," said SMU men's hockey coach Ryan Egan. "We believe that these two nominees are a tremendous representation of our current student-athletes and our men's hockey program."
 
Saint Mary's Founders' Day celebrates the founding of Saint Mary's University by the Most Reverend Patrick Heffron, Bishop of the Diocese of Winona, over 110 years ago and the founding of the De La Salle Christian Brothers by Saint John Baptist de La Salle over 300 years ago.