For 2026 Harvey J. Ablah Award recipient Thomas Munn, the most meaningful part of his Newman University experience was the network of relationships he built along the way.
“I’ve made a bunch of connections with students, faculty and staff,” he said. “I was able to have a personal relationship with (a lot of people). It’s nice no matter where I walk on campus, either I know somebody or somebody knows me.”
Munn, an accounting major, graduated with a 3.95 GPA and earned Dean’s List honors every semester, all while growing as a student leader. He served as a resident assistant for three years, co-founded the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, led the Student Government Association as treasurer and captained the varsity baseball team. He also mentored youth through St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, coached youth basketball and baseball and participated in Newman’s campus ministry events, including retreats, adoration and serving Mass.
Munn’s impact stretched beyond residence life and student leadership and earned multiple recognitions for his character, athletic abilities and academics.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Alden Stout used a few of those accolades as evidence of Munn’s impact.
“The St. Catherine Medal, the Mr. Jet Award and the Outstanding Accounting Student Award all tell the same story: Thomas Munn is someone who leads by example,” Stout said during Newman’s spring commencement ceremony.
An unexpected token of achievement
The Harvey J. Ablah Award is the university’s most prestigious undergraduate award, presented annually at commencement.
Munn said he was surprised when his name was announced as the 2026 recipient.
“Everything I did, I didn’t do it with the intentions of winning an award,” he said. “But it’s just an honor to be acknowledged for it and that other people saw the importance I took to connecting with other people and my community.”
The recognition carried special meaning for his family. Munn’s father, an alumnus of Newman, was nominated for the Ablah Award at his own graduation ceremony.
“It’s just as much of an award for them,” Munn said. “(It shows) that the hard work they put into raising me paid off, and that they did a good job at it.”
Nominators celebrate Munn
Staff and faculty nominators described Munn as “friendly,” “a great example” and “someone who lives out his faith in a meaningful way.”
“Thomas Munn is the perfect example of what it means to be a Newman Jet,” one nominator wrote. “He not only talks the talk, but he walks the walk.”
Another added that Munn’s involvement in extracurricular activities never stopped him from being a high-performing student.
“More than these accomplishments, Tom is a positive and energetic presence on campus among his peers,” the nominator said. “He is a great example of a Catholic, consistently representing strong values in how he carries himself on and off campus.”
Newman’s Catholic identity and culture of service both played big roles in shaping Munn as a person, he said.
“Growing up Catholic and going to Catholic schools, it was very much of a blessing to be able to stay in a community that promoted that,” Munn said. “There is a lot of joy that comes in serving others.”
He added that the service requirements connected to his academic scholarship encouraged him to prioritize serving others in ways he may not otherwise have pursued.
“As much as it is a requirement, it’s very much been a gift to me,” Munn said. “As an RA, it got me out of my comfort zone. I’ve had some people reach out to me and say how I’ve impacted them to want to do more on campus and pursue leadership opportunities as well … That’s just very gifting to see the work I do is in fact impacting others and they’re in turn impacting others through their lives.”
Gratitude to Newman
As a student in the School of Business & Technology, Munn credited his professors for his success.
“Professor (Patrick) Nance is just absolutely amazing,” Munn said. “Even in tough courses, I never got discouraged. And Professor (Larry) Straub’s insight on what it means to be a person in business in today’s day and age definitely drove me in wanting to go a little bit more of the finance route rather than accounting.”
Munn said Newman taught him the importance of interpersonal connection.
“As much as it is numbers, business and finance focused, I would say it’s more of a working-with-people job,” he said. “Here at Newman, being on a smaller campus, you interact with a lot of people. You learn how to approach talking to people in different ways, how to be compassionate and motivating … all these are skills that I’ll have to use as a financial advisor.”
Though commencement marked the end of his undergraduate years, this isn’t the end of Munn’s chapter at Newman. In August, Munn will pursue his Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in data analytics while serving once again as a resident assistant and returning to the baseball field for his final season. He will also continue working part-time for Edward Jones with the goal of becoming a full-time, certified financial adviser after he graduates in May 2027.
“I look forward to getting one more year with everybody,” he said.
For current and future students, Munn offered simple advice about the Newman experience.
“Any event on campus, try to go to it,” he said. “You get out of it what you put into it.”
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