Ricky Austin Receiving Catholic Educator Award

Ricky Austin will receive the Catholic Educator Award from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota at the 2024 Character Recognition Awards to recognize his service as the President of the Aim Higher Foundation. Aim Higher’s mission is to ensure that all children can access the life-changing benefits of a Catholic school. The Character Recognition Awards is an annual event, facilitated by Synergy Leadership Exchange on behalf of the state of Minnesota. The event celebrates the achievements of schools, organizations and individuals that contribute to building character strengths and ethical leadership skills in youth throughout the state of Minnesota. 

Aim Higher is on track to award approximately 2,800 need-based scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year, and has awarded more than $15 million in these scholarships since it was founded in 2012. Aim Higher Foundation helps more children access the proven benefits of a Catholic education by making tuition more affordable at K-8 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Aim Higher scholarships, once awarded, follow their recipients from kindergarten through eighth grade. Once a child receives a scholarship, they will continue to receive an additional scholarship each year until they begin high school.

Before assuming his role as President, Austin was the Director of Programs and Communications and Vice President of Advancement and Operations at Aim Higher. In both his leadership positions, Austin has helped make Catholic schools more accessible for thousands of students in the Twin Cities area. Prior to joining Aim Higher, Austin served at the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education and at the Partnership Schools in New York. Austin began his career as an elementary school teacher, administrator, and community volunteer, serving Catholic schools in Oklahoma City, OK and Chicago, IL.

Saint Mary’s will once again host the annual Character Recognition Awards luncheon in partnership with event facilitator, Synergy Leadership Exchange, on Wednesday, May 22 at the University Center, 2540 Park Avenue, Minneapolis. The event will feature a keynote by Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org,and  a welcome by Minnesota Department of Education Deputy Commissioner Stephanie Graff, followed by the awards presentation that will recognize schools and educational leaders from across the state with awards for Minnesota Ethical Leadership, Catholic Educator, Minnesota Promising Practices, Minnesota School of Character, and Champion of Character. CHECK IN: 10:30 A.M.; PROGRAM BEGINS: 11 A.M.

Tickets to attend the event can be purchased for $25 at: https://www.eventsquid.com/contestant-reg.cfm?event_id=24259

Download Parking and Directions or find general event information.