Brian Brenberg named UST's Tommy of the Year

March 13, 2002
Wed. March. 13, 2002

St. Thomas football-track star Brian Brenberg gets elite campus "Tommy of the Year" award

University of St. Thomas senior Brian Brenberg (SR-Wyoming, Minn./Forest Lake HS) has been named 'Tommy of the Year" for the 2001-2002 school year in a vote of students, faculty and staff.

The annual award, first presented in 1931, goes to the St. Thomas senior who best exemplifies the ideals of the university. More than 1,000 St. Thomas seniors are eligible to be nominated.

Another of the three finalists also is a standout student-athlete -- UST swimming & Diving co-cpataim Kristen Murray.

Brenberg, a Finance and Marketing major with a G.P.A. of 3.982, is active in athletics, community service and faith-related activities. In the classroom, he's received just one A-minus and the rest As throughout his college term.

In sports, he was co-captain and a starting wide receiver on the 2001 St. Thomas football team and also competes in track and field as a triple jumper. His exceptional community service, leadership and academic success helped him become one of 11 players nationally from allDivision I-AA, II, III and NAIA football teams named to the 2001 Good Works Team by the American Football Coaches Association.

In the area of community service, he is a volunteer with VISION (Volunteers in Service Internationally or Nationally), Habitat for Humanity, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital and community clean-up days. As a volunteer for VISION (Volunteers in Service Internationally or Nationally), he took 33-hour van ride to Oregon over spring break 2000 to assist on an environmental project. His group assessed local vegetation and gave recommendations on ways to improve greenspace.

On campus, he's served as a volunteer tutor and helped with the annual youth Christmas party. He's also made high school visits to talk with students about preparing and succeeding in college.

And in the area of faith, he is active at the St. John Neumann Catholic Church and in campus Bible study and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The last two seasons, he received his football team's Monsignor James Lavin Award for Christian approach, service and dedication.

Brenberg was married in the summer of 2000 and his wife, Krista, is a student at the University of Minnesota. He is the son of Mary and Robert Brenberg of Wyoming, Minn., and a 1998 graduate of Forest Lake High School.

Brenberg, who worked a summer internship in 2001 at the St. Paul Companies, was a co-starter from 1999-2001. Despite missing three games in 2001 with an injury, he finished with 47 career receptions for 562 yards and three touchdowns.

"I'm very proud of Brian," said St. Thomas football coach Don Roney. "You can tell the type of person he is by the choices he has made in helping others. He also is a very dedicated athlete and is always pushing himself to achieve the high goals he has set. He's the best role model you could ask for and is an excellent resource for our younger players."