Football's Ben Kessler gets elite Tommie Award

March 1, 2006
Two-time Academic All-American and All-MIAC defensive tackle Ben Kessler was selected the 2006 Tommie Award winner by a vote of students, staff and faculty. The award has been given annually since 1931 to a senior who exemplifies the ideals of the university.

Kessler, of Janesville, Wis., holds a 4.0 grade-point average and is majoring in philosophy and business. He is member of St. John Vianney Seminary, a community of undergraduate seminarians located on the university's St. Paul campus, and his years at St. Thomas have blended scholarship, athletics and service to the church and community.

Father William Baer, rector of St. John Vianney, said, "I don't quite know how he does it. Ben finds time in his schedule where no time seems to exist, coordinating activities and projects around the campus and surrounding community that have brought together seminarian students, nonseminarian students, student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff, parents, church leaders and local community social-service agencies."

"As Ben's seminary rector, I watch him engage in bridge-building efforts among various sections of the university community unlike any others," Baer added.

At 6'2" and 250 pounds, Kessler played defensive tackle for the St. Thomas football team for four years and was team captain in his senior year. He was named an ESPN the Magazine Academic All American. He also was a national semifinalist for the Draddy Award, often referred to as the "Academic Heisman."

At St. John Vianney, he served as both assistant and head sacristan, was the athletic tournament coordinator, and led a mission trip to New Orleans in 2003.

He has been a founding member and grand knight of the St. Thomas Knights of Columbus Council and chaired the council's food drive and pancake breakfast. His volunteer activities are many and varied: Loaves and Fishes food program, St. Phillips After-School Program, Little Sisters of the Poor Nursing Home, St. Mary's Nursing Home, Segrado Corazon Hispanic Ministry and Spectrum Lighthouse Rehabilitation Home.

He is a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and Delta Epsilon Sigma National Scholastic Honor Society. He received a William B. Malevich Leadership Scholarship and a Monsignor James Lavin Award. He also chaired a Divine Mercy Hour of Prayer at St. Thomas and a 24-hour pro-life vigil in Madison, Wis.

"Ben is very intense in all facets of his daily life," noted his football coach Don Roney. "When he is on the football field or in training for the season, Ben is extremely determined and works very hard. He has the same intensity in the classroom and when talking about his faith and the Catholic Church.

"He is a great role model for our other players and for other students on campus. He is equally a great role model for his seminarian classmates; a man exploring his calling can be aggressive, intense and proud of his faith while being successful in everything that he does."

This unusual combination of gritty football player and devoted seminarian has been covered in a host of media accounts that have appeared on campus, in Minnesota and nationally.

Kessler is the son of Anne and Ralph Kessler of Janesville. Following graduation from St. Thomas this spring he plans to continue his studies in Vatican City at the Pontifical North American College.

The Tommie Award is sponsored by university's Division of Student Affairs.