Jaimason Lacasse ’24: Provincial Medal of Honor Winner
Jaimason Lacasse ’24 never expected to get involved with choir on campus.
The sport and exercise physiology graduate was a three-sport varsity athlete in high school back in New Hampshire. But knowing he had a good voice, his friends encouraged him to give choir a shot.
“Sophomore year, I thought okay, I’ll join and see how it goes,” he says. “I Ioved it, and every semester I got more and more involved until senior year I was in four different groups.”
Lacasse’s commitment to liturgical life on campus was just one of the reasons he was named this year’s Provincial Medal of Honor winner. The award is presented at Commencement by the Very Rev. Jack Kolodziej, Provincial of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, to the graduate who best exemplifies the spirit of our patron saint.
While announcing the award, Terese Wignot, Ph.D., provost, noted Lacasse’s “humble, consistent witness to the Gospel” and told the crowd he “lives the mission we hope all of our graduates embody.”
“There are a lot of students on campus who also could have won this award. I’m so fortunate to have met some of the people that have helped to shape me, and I’m honored that I may have had the opportunity to do that for others.”
In addition to his involvement with the Chorale, Schola Cantorum, and the Liturgical Choir, Lacasse served as a resident advisor and helped to lead Campus Ministry clubs, including the Pro-Life Club and GIFT. He co-founded Singing in Service, a group that visits nursing homes in the area and sings to residents.
He was also part of The National Society of Leadership and Success and the Ryan Leadership Institute, a two-year program that fosters personal growth and leadership training in the context of Salesian Catholic spirituality.
In addition to the Provincial Medal, Lacasse is also the recipient of The John A. Hanley Spirit of DeSales Award, which is given to an individual whose actions, positive attitude, and exemplary spiritual life have influenced the University.
“Trying to live out the Gospel is something that I strive for in my everyday life,” he says. “To hear that I’ve been able to do that and have an impact on campus is really meaningful to me.”
Lacasse, who graduated magna cum laude, is back home in New Hampshire and plans to spend a year working in the medical field before enrolling in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program.