Sister Helen Prejean - honorary degrees and awards
2018
- Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Salve Regina University, Providence, RI
2016
- Honorary Doctor of Divinity, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
2014
- Belle Harris Bennett Vision Award, Scarritt-Bennett Center, Nashville, TN
- Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, MA
2013
- Robert M. Holstein Faith That Does Justice Award from the Ignatian Solidarity Network
- Living Legends Award for Service to Humanity, The Living Legends Awards Organization, Fulton, MD
- Honorary Doctor of Arts and Humane Letters, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AK
2011
- Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, University of Great Falls, Great Falls, MT
- Honorary Doctor of Divinity, Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA
- The Otis Social Justice Award, Wheaton College, Norton, MA
- National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty Lifetime Achievement Award, Chicago, IL
2010
- Honorary Doctor of Laws from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Gaudium et Spes Award, Fordham University, Bronx, NY
- President’s Medal, Mt. Saint Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, MD
- Cunningham-Carey Award, Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
2009
- Honorary degree from Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles, CA
- The Archbishop Oscar Romero Award from Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA
- Honorary degree from Drury University, Springfield, MO
- Honorary degree from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
2008
- World Methodist Peace Award, New Orleans, LA
- Honorary degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
- Honorary degree from Edgewood College, Madison, WI
- The Gaudium Award from The Breukelein Institute, Brooklyn, NY
- Ethics Award, Marymount University, Arlington, VA
2007
- The Zhakanaka Peace Award from the “Peace in the City” Campaign, Philadelphia, PA
- Honorary degree from Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, TX
- Honorary degree from Marion College, Fond du Lac, WI
- Honorary degree from Lewis University, Romeoville, IL
- Dignitatis Humanae Award from University of St. Thomas, School of Law in Minneapolis, MN
- Honorary citation from the City Council of Philadelphia, PA
2006
- Honorary degree from the University of Portland, Portland, OR
- Standard for Christ Award from the Jesuit Volunteer Corps: South, TX
- Chancellor Distinguish Honor Award from the University of California-Berkley, Berkley, CA
- Humanitarian Award from DePaul University, College of Law, Chicago, IL
- Honorary degree from Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
2005
- Chief Justice Earl Warren Civil Liberties Award from the ACLU Foundation of Northern California
- Oliver-Sigur Humanitarian Service Award from The Louisiana Council of Human Relations, LA
- Death Penalty Focus Award
- Honorary degree from Neumann College, Ashton, PA
- Honorary degree from St. Francis University, Loretta, PA
- Honorary degree from Loyola University, New Orleans, LA
- Peace Prize, Ypres, Belgium
- Honorary degree from St. Francis College, Brooklyn, N
- Commendation for Humanitarian Efforts given by the State of Mississippi
2004
- Cardinal Suenens Award from John Carroll University in University Heights, OH
- Honorary degree from Cuny Law School in Queens, New York, NY
- Honorary degree from Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA
- Honorary degree from Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont, CA
- Honorary degree from City University of New York, NY
- Honorary degree from Regis University, Denver, CO
2003
- Franciscan International Award from Franciscan Retreats, Prior Lake, MN
- Honorary degree from Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL
- Honorary degree from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL
- James Cardinal Gibbons Medal from Catholic University of American, Washington, DC
- Assembly Resolution honoring Sr. Helen from the Toledo City Council, Toledo, OH
- The Dignitas Humana Award from St. John’s School of Theology, Collegeville, MN
2002
- The Ut Diligatis Invicem Award from Gannon University, Erie, PA
- Honorary degree from Ball State University, Muncie, IN
- Honorary degree from Marygrove College, Detroit, MI
- Honorary degree from Governors State University, University Park, IL
- Honorary degree from University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
- Honorary degree from National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
- Caritas Award from Catholic Charities in Paterson, New Jersey
- Dignitas Humana Award from St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary, Collegeville, MN
2001
- The Harry F. Fagan Roundtable Award
- Honorary degree from St. Mary of the Woods from Terra Haute, IN
- Honorary degree from Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, WV
- Honorary degree from the University of Scranton in Scranton, PA
- Honorary degree from Hendrix College in Conway, AR
- Honorary degree from St. Rose College in Albany, NY
- Arkansas Travelers Ambassador of Good Will given by the State of Arkansas
2000
- The Bishop Dingman Peace Award from the Catholic Peace Ministry in Des Moines, IA
- The Bishop Carroll Dozier Peace and Justice Award from the Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN
- Honorary degree from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada
- Honorary degree DePaul University in Chicago, IL
- Honorary degree from Northeastern University in Boston, MA
- The Human Rights Award from The St. Anthony Messenger in Padua, Italy
- Honorary degree from St. Thomas University in Fredericton New Brunswick, Canada
- Honorary degree from Alvernia College, Reading, PA
- Special recognition given by the Ohio Senate
1999
- Honorary degree from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, IA
- Honorary degree from Maryville University in St Louis, MO
- Honorary degree from Barry University in Miami Shores, FL
- Honorary degree from Avila College in Kansas City, KS
- Honorary degree from Cabrini College in Radnor, PA
- Honorary degree from the University of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA
- Honorary degree from Holy Cross College in Worchester, MA
- The Catholic Woman of Achievement Award from the College of St. Elizabeth, NJ
- The 1999 U.S. Catholic Award from the U.S. Catholic Magazine in Chicago
- The Pope John XXII Award at Viterbo College in La Crosse, WI
- The Alumna of the Year Award from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada
- The Distinguished Service Award from the National Council of Catholic Women
- Centennial Catholic Woman of Achievement Award from Lourdes College in Sylvania, OH
- Centennial Catholic Woman of Achievement Award from St. Norbert College in DePerre, WI
- Pope John XXIII Award from Viterbo University, La Crosse, WI
1998
- The Ben Smith Award from the American Civil Liberties Union in New Orleans, La
- The Robert O. Cooper Fellowship in Peace and Justice Award
- The Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA
- The Abolitionist of the Year Award from Juneau, Alaska
- The award at the 5th annual celebration of Women Week from Y.M.C.A. in New Orleans, LA
- Honorary degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA
- Honorary degree from Notre Dame College in Manchester, NH
- Honorary degree from St. Ambrose College in Davenport, IA
- Honorary degree from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, CT
- The Peacemakers Award from ROCA, Inc.
- Honorary Faculty Award from New England College, NH
- The Ketteler Award for Social Justice from the Sisters of Divine Providence, Kingston, MA
- Arkansas Travelers Ambassador of Good Will given by the State of Arkansas
1997
- Honorary doctorate from Mt. St. Vincent College in Riverdale, NY
- The Carondelet Medal from Mt. ST. Mary College in Los Angeles, CA
- Honorary doctorate from Amherst College in Amherst, MA
- The Louisiana Legends Award in Baton Rouge, LA by Louisiana Public Broadcasting
- Honorary degree from Fontbonne College, Clayton, MO
- “Sr. Helen’s Day” declared by the State of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA
1996
- Honorary degree from Regis College in Weston, MA
- Honorary degree from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ
- Honorary degree from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA
- Honorary degree from St. John’s University in Jamaica, NY
- Honorary degree from George Town University in Washington, DC
- Torchbearer Award from the Dominican College in New Orleans, LA
- Alliance for Justice award
- The Laetare Medal from Notre Dame University in South Bend, IN
- Invited to carry the torch for the Olympics in New Orleans on May 24,1996
- The St Thomas More Award from St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio, TX
- The Vision 2000 Courage Award from Catholic Charities U.S.A.
- The 1996 Roger Baldwin Award from the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Massachusetts
- The Humanitas Prize as a consultant for the film Dead Man Walking
- The Eyewitness Award of the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty
- The Adele Dewyer - St. Thomas of Villanova Peace Award by Villanova University Center for Peace and Justice
- The Florida Lasker Civil Liberties Award by the New York Civil Liberties Union
- The Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace Award by Pax Christi USA
- The “Kindly Light” Award given by the University of Toronto, Newman Center in Toronto, Canada
- Sword of Loyola from Loyola University, Chicago, IL
1995
- The New Orleans Business Women’s Owners Association Achievers Award
- Citizen of the Year Award from Louisiana Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers
- The Wade Mackie Award Peacemaking Award from Bienville House in Baton Rouge LA
- Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Glasgow, Scotland
- The Justice Albert Tate, Jr. Award from the National Association of Defense Lawyers in New Orleans, LA
- Recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship
- The Christopher Spirit Award, New York, NY
1994
- The Champion of Liberty Award from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (first time given to a non-lawyer)
- Pax Christi USA Book Award (Honorable mention)
- The Melcher Book Award (Honorable mention) given by the Unitarian Universalist Association
- Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice by Paulist Center, Boston, MA
- Lifelines Book of the Year from the Lifelines Association in the United Kingdom
- The Abolitionist Award from the Death Penalty Focus, California
- “Esse non Videre” award (“To be and not to seem”) from St. Joseph’s College, New York, NY
- The National Civil Liberties Award from the American Civil Liberties Union, Georgia
- Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights Award from Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
- Named among “100 Fearless Women” by Mirabella Magazine
1993
- The Christopher Award was given to Dead Man Walking for “artistic excellence affirming the highest value of the human spirit”
- The Herbert and Sara Ehrmann Award from Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty
- Named one of The Most Confident Women in America by McCall Magazine
- Assembly Resolution honoring Sr. Helen from the California Legislature, CA
1992
- The National Abolitionist Award given by the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
- The Catholic Press Association Journalism Award, Best Short Story - Beloved Sons
1990
- The Sanctity of Life Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
- The Mike McGough Award from the Convocation of Jail and Prison Ministers
1986
- The Abolitionist Award from the Louisiana Capitol Defense Project