After attending St. Luke’s grade school, it was obvious that Stephen Seidel, class of 1974, and his four brothers would go to Cretin - his grandfather was a member of the class of 1903. He attended during turbulent years: the Vietnam War, Watergate, and civil rights protests were all in the headlines in the early 70s. He was inspired to commit his life to making the world a better place.
After earning a dual degree in Theater and Government - learning about political systems in one and teamwork on complex projects in the other - Stephen began his career in nonprofits. He worked for a few organizations before finding his home at Habitat for Humanity in the late 1980s.
He served as Executive Director of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 1989 to 2004, and then joined the headquarters of Habitat for Humanity International. He considers himself blessed to have been a part of providing adequate housing for people around the globe.
Stephen’s dedication to the dear neighbor is perhaps best put into words by his friend and colleague Mark Andrews, Sr. Vice President for International Operations at Habitat for Humanity international.
“Stephen’s work has improved the lives of families around the globe and the impact of that work will be felt for generations to come. His expertise, his commitment, and his humility are the hallmarks of a servant leader. For decades Stephen has put his faith into action to serve the poor. As a result, thousands of mothers, fathers, and their children will sleep in a safe and secure home tonight.”
Stephen looks up to President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn for their dedication to Habitat, and also to young people today such as Malala Yousefzai, Greta Thunberg and the student from Parkland, Florida that started “March for our Lives”, who are committed to making a difference for their generation and the future. He believes that CDH, as a long-standing Twin Cities institution, is uniquely situated to educate young people to be similarly devoted to the dear neighbor.
This award is presented annually in honor of the Christian Brothers to a distinguished alum in recognition of his outstanding service to his community and to Cretin and Cretin-Derham Hall High School. This award recognizes his achievements in his ministry exemplifying the highest and best traditions of Cretin High School.