Senate President John Cullerton, a Loyola alum, made the following statement at a special ceremony on Friday:

“Today we honored Sister Jean for a lifetime of work to expand access to higher education and assist students on their path to higher learning.

“She was inducted into the Illinois Department on Aging’s Senior Illinoisan Hall of Fame.

“I had the honor of nominating her and then speaking at today’s event hosted by Loyola University.

“Congratulations Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt for all you do and all you have done.”

The woman known to the nation as Sister Jean has been at the Loyola Ramblers’ side for years and has served as team chaplain since 1996.