By the Thurston Chronicle staff
Saint Martin’s University has announced in a news release the six recipients of its 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards, presented during the Homecoming festivities on Friday, Feb 20.
Honorees are Ken Butigan, Joe Deck, Br. Edmund Ebbers, Rev. Bill Hausmann, Cynthia Heye Lamothe and Dan O’Neill.
“We are proud to recognize these award recipients, who all exemplify leadership, integrity, and a deep commitment to service,” Saint Martin’s University President Bill Brownsberger said. “They reflect the values we strive to instill in every graduate and the meaningful difference our alumni make in their communities.”
Gov. Bob Ferguson accepted one of the awards on behalf of his uncle, Hausmann, who was honored posthumously.
When accepting the Distinguished Alumni Award on his behalf, Ferguson reflected on the life and legacy of his late uncle. He shared that Saint Martin’s had an early and lasting influence on his uncle’s vocation, shaped by the example and mentorship of the monks who modeled a life of faith, discipline and service.
“He was a real role model for me in pursuing service in general in my life,” Ferguson said. “He was an incredible listener, and I think that was a real gift he had as a priest in serving so many people all across our state.”
Recipients were selected from nominations based on service to their community, professional achievement, or service to Saint Martin’s University.
“Our Distinguished Alumni remind us that the relationship between a university and its graduates does not end at commencement,” John Grossman, interim vice president for institutional advancement said. “Their partnership, advocacy and accomplishments elevate Saint Martin’s and expand opportunities for our students. Please join us in celebrating their achievements.”
- Ken Butigan, High School Class of 1972, is being recognized for his professional achievement, having built a distinguished career advancing nonviolence, peace and justice worldwide. A salutatorian and standout member of the Saint Martin’s debate team, he earned more than 30 speech and debate awards, including a state championship in oratory. He has remained closely connected to Saint Martin’s as a speaker, adjunct faculty member and former director of the Spiritual Life Institute. A leader in the global Catholic nonviolence movement, Butigan helped organize landmark Vatican conferences, co-founded the Catholic Institute for Nonviolence in Rome and played key roles in national and international peace initiatives, including Campaign Nonviolence. A prolific author and advocate, his lifelong commitment to human dignity and social change reflects the values of Saint Martin’s and makes him a deserving Distinguished Alumni honoree, according to the release.
- Joe Deck, Class of 1984, is being recognized for professional achievement. He has built a distinguished career in business leadership and financial management while remaining deeply committed to Saint Martin’s University and the Thurston County community. A graduate in accounting and business management, he has served on Saint Martin’s Athletic Department and financial boards, returned as a guest speaker and generously supported Saints Athletics through Northwest Harley-Davidson, where he is co-owner and vice president, as well as through personal philanthropy. A lifelong Thurston County resident, Deck has supported numerous community organizations, including O’Bee Credit Union, the Boys and Girls Club of Thurston County and local Catholic ministries. His leadership and service reflect the values of Saint Martin’s and earn him the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement, the release stated.
- Br. Edmund Ebbers, Class of 1987, is being recognized for his service to Saint Martin’s. He has devoted more than five decades of faithful service to Saint Martin’s Abbey and the broader university community. He joined the Abbey in 1968 after first entering monastic life at Mount Angel Abbey and has since embodied the Benedictine values of prayer, work and hospitality with humility and devotion. Br. Edmund is especially known for his ministry to elderly monks. Recognizing the community’s growing needs, he trained as a licensed practical nurse and became the primary on-site caregiver for aging members of the Abbey, providing skilled clinical care along with a compassionate presence. His work has been vital to the health and well-being of the monastic community., the release stated. Beyond his healthcare ministry, he is admired for crafting rosaries shared with mission sites around the world and for his dedicated care of the Abbey grounds. His quiet leadership and lifelong commitment to service reflect the Benedictine spirit and earn him the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Saint Martin’s.
- Rev. Bill Hausmann, High School Class of 1944, is being honored posthumously for his service to the community. He is remembered as a joyful and devoted servant leader whose life reflected deep faith, compassion and commitment to community, according to the release. At Saint Martin’s High School, he distinguished himself as an honor roll student, standout athlete in basketball and football, ASB president, and contributor to the yearbook and student newspaper. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he graduated from Santa Clara University in 1950, entered the Jesuit Novitiate in 1956 and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1966. Hausmann passed away in 2013, leaving a legacy of faithful service and enduring impact, the release stated.
- Cynthia Heye Lamothe, High School Class of 1977 and Class of 1980, is a pioneering civil engineer and leader in public service, and is being recognized for her professional achievement. One of the earliest women to earn a civil engineering degree from Saint Martin’s, she helped pave the way for future generations of women in STEM. She also holds a bachelor’s in mathematics from the University and a master’s in civil engineering from Memphis State University. Lamothe serves her community as an elected commissioner for King County Fire District No. 20, develops programs to support local residents, and ministers as a Eucharistic minister in her church. Her leadership, service and mentorship exemplify the values of Saint Martin’s University, earning her the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement, the release stated.
- Dan O’Neill, High School Class of 1968, is a dedicated community leader, business owner and advocate for education and environmental stewardship in the South Puget Sound region. A graduate of Saint Martin’s High School, he serves on the Saint Martin’s University Board of Trustees, reflecting the values of service, integrity and stewardship he developed early in life. O’Neill’s decades of community service include leadership roles with The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, Tumwater Citizens for Better Education, and numerous civic and philanthropic boards. His dedication to education, community well-being and environmental stewardship exemplifies the values of Saint Martin’s University, earning him the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Community, the release stated.
