Sister Jean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jean Dolores Schmidt |
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| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Jean Dolores Schmidt |
| Born | August 21, 1919 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois |
| Alma mater | Mount St. Mary's College (B.A.) Loyola University of Los Angeles (M.A.) |
Jean Dolores Schmidt, also known as Sister Jean, is a very special American religious sister. She belongs to the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary group. Sister Jean is famous for being the chaplain (a spiritual advisor) for the Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team at Loyola University Chicago. She was born on August 21, 1919, and has inspired many people with her spirit and support for the team.
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Sister Jean's Early Life
Jean Dolores Schmidt was born in San Francisco, California, on August 21, 1919. She grew up in a neighborhood called Eureka Valley. From a young age, when she was just in third grade, she thought about becoming a nun.
When she was a student at St. Paul's High School, Sister Jean loved to play basketball. She was part of the girls' basketball team. After finishing high school in 1937, she joined the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary convent in Iowa. By 1941, she was a sister and went back to California to teach. She earned her college degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in 1949 and a Master of Arts in 1961.
Her Career and Work
Sister Jean started her teaching career at St. Bernard School in California. Later, in 1946, she taught at St. Charles Borromeo School. Many of her students from St. Charles later chose to join religious life themselves.
In 1961, Sister Jean moved from California to Chicago. She began teaching at Mundelein College. During the 1960s, she was involved in the civil rights movement, working for fairness and equal rights for everyone.
Loyola University hired Sister Jean in 1991 when Mundelein College joined with Loyola. Since 1994, she has been the team chaplain for the Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team. She offers both spiritual guidance and helpful advice about the games. Sister Jean is so loved that she even has her own bobblehead doll! December 1, 2012, was even named "Sister Jean Day" to honor her.
In 2016, Loyola University gave her a special honorary doctorate degree. This was to celebrate her 50 years of service to the university. As of 2018, she still had an office in the student center on campus. She lives in a senior living community in downtown Chicago.
Sister Jean and the NCAA Basketball Tournaments
Sister Jean became very famous across the country during the 2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The Loyola Ramblers team surprised everyone by winning against strong teams like Miami and Tennessee. This sent Loyola to the "Sweet 16" for the first time in 33 years!
Sister Jean, who was 98 years old at the time, quickly became a star of the tournament. Her bobblehead dolls became very popular and sold for a lot of money online. The Ramblers kept winning and reached the "Final Four" for the first time since 1963. They were eventually defeated by Michigan in the semifinal game.
Sister Jean gained national attention again when Loyola played in the 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. At first, she wasn't allowed to attend the tournament. But after she received her COVID-19 vaccine, she was cleared to go! Before a big game against the top-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini, she even included a scouting report (tips about the other team) in her opening prayer. The Ramblers went on to win that game, 71–58.
She also made an appearance at the 2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament when Loyola qualified again. People noted that she was still in great health.
Celebrating Her 100th Birthday and Beyond
Sister Jean became a centenarian (someone who is 100 years old or more) on August 21, 2019. To celebrate, the Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker declared it 'Sister Jean Day' all across the state of Illinois!
On August 21, 2022, a special plaza outside the Loyola CTA station was named after Sister Jean. This was to celebrate her 103rd birthday.
When she celebrated her 105th birthday, Sister Jean shared her secrets for a long life. She said they are "loving others and God, taking care of your mind and body, and interacting with young people." For her 105th birthday, she also received a special message from President Joe Biden, honoring her many years of service.
