NEW MIDDLETOWN College student spearheaded pope's award

An area student decided that Pope John Paul II deserved recognition.
By VERONICA GORLEY
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Daniel J. Franjko of New Middletown was among a team of 13 who delivered an award to the pope Dec. 19.
The international Students in Free Enterprise organization, through a delegation from John Carroll University in Cleveland, presented Pope John Paul II with the "SIFE Global Champion Award of Freedom."
Franjko, a senior at John Carroll University and the chief operating officer of the university's SIFE team, said the Global Champion Award was created to honor individuals who have made a significant effort to impact human rights and to advance freedom globally. This international award is the first of its kind for SIFE, said Franjko.
The award "was for breaking down social, political, economic and religious barriers," Franjko said. "Having the opportunity to go up to him and show appreciation for what he has done for humanity is what was important to us."
Franjko said he wanted to present an award to the pope ever since returning from a national SIFE competition in May.
In order to bestow the honor, the university's team had to negotiate with the Vatican, receive approval of SIFE's Fortune 500 international board of directors, raise money for the trip and commission artists to design and create the award.
Because Franjko's aunt is a nun, he had contacts in the Vatican to make the arrangements, and by September, the pope agreed to accept the award.
The presentation: Franjko and Dianne Welsh, faculty adviser for John Carroll's team, presented the award and kissed the pope's ring, and the other 11 members of the group watched from the audience.
"He smiled to us, said 'Thank you and Merry Christmas,'" Franjko said.
Franjko was one of the four John Carroll students on the trip. Also in attendance were SIFE's president and chief operating officer Alvin Rohrs, members of SIFE's board of directors, JCU faculty members and the artists who created the award.
"I really think it has a lot of significance since Sept. 11," Welsh said. "If we don't change the world one person at a time, it's not going to happen."
She explained the team presented the award to the pope as a world leader, rather than as a religious leader.
"If people can't practice entrepreneurship and free enterprise, they won't be able to practice religious freedom or any other freedoms," Welsh said.
Significance: Welsh said the award, sculpted in pewter and 24-karat gold, cost about $3,000. The base is fashioned to represent that the world is not perfect, and the blooming shape is to signify unity and an everlasting flow of peace.
"There are thousands of students around the world that are represented by this award," Welsh said. "The best chance of changing the world is with young people."
"Dan is someone who can inspire other students to see the bigger vision," Welsh continued. "His persistence and determination have really paid off."
Though the rest of the group departed for home after presenting the award, Franjko extended his stay in Europe to attempt establishing SIFE programs at universities in Croatia and to visit extended family. He returns Jan. 10.
A 1998 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School, Franjko plans to graduate in May with a degree in management and a concentration in information services and entrepreneurship.
Founded in 1975, SIFE teams learn, practice and teach principles of free market economics, entrepreneurship, business ethics and personal financial success, as well as perform community service.
SIFE has teams at more than 1,000 schools in the United States and in 23 countries around the globe.