TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL
2024 TRINITY PEACE MEDAL
PRESENTED TO
MRS. DENISE SEARS
The Trinity High School community has awarded the Trinity Peace Medal at its graduation ceremony for over 50 years. The award recognizes a deserving individual or group for efforts that promote peacemaking, justice building and service to others. Mr. Klaus Mittelsten H’92, who at the time was chair of Trinity’s Foreign Language Department, initiated the award, along with then-Trinity principal Rev. Thomas Duerr H’92. Recent recipients have included Eddie Woods Jr., PhD., Annette Mandley-Turner, Sister Larraine Lauter OSU, Mr. Buddy Dumeyer, Ms. Karina Barillas, and the Little Sisters of the Poor.
The 2024 Trinity Peace Medal is awarded to Denise Sears.
Denise Sears is president and CEO of SOS International, a global health organization based in Louisville, KY. The mission of SOS is to create a healthier world by connecting communities to life-saving resources and building sustainable partnerships. Under Denise’s leadership, SOS has doubled its international work, improved global maternal and child health, implemented local health and education programs, and organized a disaster response team that delivers targeted humanitarian aid to areas impacted by war or natural disasters. In addition to working to improve health in our world’s most impoverished regions, SOS partners with over 300 social service and educational partner organizations to create a healthier Kentucky.
Denise’s commitment to improving health by addressing social and economic inequalities extends beyond her work at SOS. She has coached new businesses in West Louisville, and she helped build an innovative project, The Rotary of Louisville West Louisville Housing Initiative, a first-of-its-kind program to expand Black homeownership.
After graduating from Columbia University with a bachelor’s degree in international economics, Denise enjoyed a career in finance and marketing, followed by opening her own marketing company. While running her business and raising her daughter, Denise also pursued her interest in the healthcare industry by obtaining a master’s degree in health administration from Ashford University. In 2012, Denise faced the life-changing event of suffering the death of her daughter and only child. This led Denise to dedicate herself to helping save our world’s most vulnerable children and to begin working in the nonprofit field. She moved to Kentucky after meeting her husband, Barry Sears, and they adopted an eight-year-old boy from China. Today their son, Mark, is graduating from Trinity. Denise serves on the Kosair for Kids Charity Advisory Council, University of Louisville President’s Council and Rotary of Louisville Board of Directors. She has openly shared her story of resilience as a public speaker.
Trinity is proud to present this year’s Peace Medal to Denise Sears. She is a wonderful example of resilience, dedication and persistence that can inspire our graduates to work for the betterment of all.
Trinity President Dr. Robert Mullen ’77 presented the award.