The late Mother Jerome Schmitt OSB, former prioress of Sacred Heart Monastery and first president of Mount Marty College, was one of the 2009 inductees into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.  She was honored in the category of educational/cultural affairs.

    Mother Jerome was a woman of vision and courage who began Mount Marty College in the midst of the Great Depression in 1936.  She believed that a college was needed for the education of the sisters and laywomen of South Dakota and the surrounding states.  What started out as a junior college has grown into a co-ed institution that now offers 32 undergraduate majors, three graduate programs and has five campus sites throughout eastern South Dakota.  Mother Jerome served as president of the college from 1936-1957 and continued to be involved with and supportive of the college until her death.  The library within the Scholstica Learning Center at the college is named in her honor.

   Mother Jerome served for 29 years as prioress of Sacred Heart Monastery and under her leadership the community grew to over 500 members prior to the founding of a daughter house, Mother of God Monastery, in 1961.

   A life-long long dream of Mother Jerome's was to build a chapel in memory of Bishop Martin Marty, who was instrumental in the faith life of the Dakotas and in inviting the young Benedicitne community in Maryville, MO to minister to the Native Americans in Dakota Territory.  This invitation and affirmative response by the Maryville Sisters led to the motherhouse being moved to South Dakota and taking root in Yankton for over 100 years.  Bishop Marty Chapel was completed in 1950 and is a significant landmark in the city and surrounding area.  It served as a place of worship and prayer for the Benedictine Sisters, Mount Marty College, and those who come to join in liturgy and other sacred events.

   Mother Jerome was named Yankton's "Citizen of the Year" in 1980.