Each year, Cristo Rey Columbus High School recognizes an outstanding member of our community whose support has been vital to the success of the school. The Milt Schott Award, named in memory of original board member and foundational school supporter, Milt Schott, is celebrated annually with a Mass and ceremony at St. Joseph Cathedral.
Milt Schott (pictured left), a Cincinnati native and graduate of Saint Xavier High School and the University of Cincinnati, had a distinguished career in industrial sales and engineering. A devoted community leader, Milt served as a trustee of the Harold C. Schott (HCS) Foundation and on several boards. As a founding Board Member of Cristo Rey Columbus, he played a pivotal role in establishing the school, an initiative he considered one of his proudest achievements. Milt’s legacy continues through his sons, Mike and Nate, with Nate currently serving as a Cristo Rey Columbus Board Member, carrying forward his father’s commitment to the school’s mission.
We are grateful to all of The Milt Schott Award recipients for their dedicated support of our mission at Cristo Rey Columbus.
2026 Recipient
Barbara A. Brown
Barbara A. Brown played an instrumental role in the foundation of our school by spearheading the feasibility study that supported the opening of a Cristo Rey Network school in Columbus. This study was a massive undertaking consisting of months of research, conducting interviews, gathering data, and more, to determine if Columbus would be a viable location for a new Cristo Rey school. With the backing of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus and many supportive businesses and community members – including award namesake Milt Schott – Barbara’s efforts helped secure the Network’s approval and turn the dream of Cristo Rey Columbus into a reality.
Thank you, Barbara, for your enduring support for Cristo Rey Columbus.
From left to right: CRC Board Member and son of Milt Schott, Nate Schott; former CRC Board Member and former Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Cia McQuaide; Bishop of Columbus, Most Reverend Earl K. Fernandes; 2026 Schott Award Honoree, Barbara A. Brown; former Bishop of Columbus, Most Reverend Frederick F. Campbell; CRC Board Chair, Mark Ryan; CRC President, Joe Patrick
List of The Milt Schott Award winners
2026 – Barbara A. Brown
2025 – The Williams Family | Kirk Williams Company
2024 – The McCurdy Family | Kimball Midwest
2023 – The Most Reverend Frederick F. Campbell
2022 – Jim Foley
2021 – Claudia Weisberg
2020 – Lucia McQuaide
2019 – Chrissie Landolfi
2018 – Rita and Lamar Hunt
2017 – Andrea and Tom McAuliffe
2016 – Michele and Dave Bianconi
2015 – Nancy and Don Kelley