Events

DePaul community celebrates global humanitarians, faith-driven service during Opus Prize Week

Events

DePaul community celebrates global humanitarians, faith-driven service during Opus Prize Week

Mary Hansen|Nov 04, 2026
Opus Prize 2026

DePaul University hosted the 2026 Opus Prize awards and celebration on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 in Gannon Hall in the Holtschneider Performance Center.

Photo Credit: (Giacomo Cain OR Holden Hall/DePaul Student Photo Agency)

Opus Prize 2026

DePaul University hosted the 2026 Opus Prize awards and celebration on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 in Gannon Hall in the Holtschneider Performance Center.

Photo Credit: (Giacomo Cain OR Holden Hall/DePaul Student Photo Agency)

Opus Prize 2026

President Robert L. Manuel, Interim Vice President for Mission and Ministry Mark Laboe and Trustee Sr. Barbara Reid spoke at the awards ceremony.

Photo Credit: (Giacomo Cain OR Holden Hall/DePaul Student Photo Agency)

Opus Prize 2026

DePaul University hosted the 2026 Opus Prize awards and celebration on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 in Gannon Hall in the Holtschneider Performance Center.

Photo Credit: (Giacomo Cain OR Holden Hall/DePaul Student Photo Agency)

Opus Prize 2026

DePaul University hosted the 2026 Opus Prize awards and celebration on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 in Gannon Hall in the Holtschneider Performance Center.

Photo Credit: (Giacomo Cain OR Holden Hall/DePaul Student Photo Agency)

Opus Prize 2026

Student Ambassadors Carolina Coronado, Francisco Ruiz-Gonzalez and Allison Barberena gave the finalists their Opus Prize medals and shared remarks.

Photo Credit: (Giacomo Cain OR Holden Hall/DePaul Student Photo Agency)

Opus Prize finalists

Student Ambassadors Carolina Coronado, Francisco Ruiz-Gonzalez and Allison Barberena gave the finalists their Opus Prize medals and shared remarks.

Photo Credit: (Giacomo Cain OR Holden Hall/DePaul Student Photo Agency)

Opus Prize 2026

DePaul University hosted the 2026 Opus Prize awards and celebration on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 in Gannon Hall in the Holtschneider Performance Center.

Photo Credit: (Giacomo Cain OR Holden Hall/DePaul Student Photo Agency)

Opus Prize 2026

The Opus Prize finalists shared inspiring stories of the role relationship building and dialogue play in their work with DePaul faculty, staff and students. The Dialogue Collaborative hosted the event, where participants discussed stories of social change from their own lives.

Photo Credit: Maria Hench/DePaul University

Opus Prize 2026

The Opus Prize finalists shared inspiring stories of the role relationship building and dialogue play in their work with DePaul faculty, staff and students.

Photo Credit: Maria Hench/DePaul University

Opus Prize 2026

President Robert L. Manuel moderated a discussion with representatives of the Opus Prize finalist organizations at a Lunch with Vincent. The finalists shared what motivated them to lead a life of service.

Photo Credit: Maria Hench/DePaul University

Opus Prize 2026

President Robert L. Manuel moderated a discussion with representatives of the Opus Prize finalist organizations at a Lunch with Vincent. The finalists shared what motivated them to lead a life of service.

Photo Credit: Maria Hench/DePaul University

DePaul students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the 2026 Opus Prize last week with conversations, prayer, dialogue and music. They heard inspiring stories of service and a commitment to justice from the finalists, who traveled from Ukraine, South Africa, and the South Side of Chicago.

“The Opus Prize has been a true blessing, helping us to reinforce core values: dignity, community, faith and service,” says Interim Vice President for Mission and Ministry Mark Laboe, who led the Opus Prize process.

The week culminated in the announcement of the Rev. Vitaliy Novak, C.M., as this year’s Opus Prize laureate on Thursday. The Opus Prize Foundation awarded $1 million to his organization, Depaul Ukraine, to advance the humanitarian work serving people in Ukraine.

The foundation awarded the other finalists, the Rev. David Kelly, C.PP.S., and Nontsasa Nyovane, $100,000 each to support their organizations. Fr. Kelly serves as executive director of Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, which promotes restorative justice in the Back of the Yards and Englewood neighborhoods in Chicago. Nyovane cares for orphan children and survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence in Khayelitsha, a township outside of Cape Town, South Africa.

“The life example of each of our honorees teaches us that there is a difference between working on behalf of those who are marginalized and working with them,” says DePaul President Robert L. Manuel. 
 

Click here to watch a video recap of the week.  
 

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