Distinguished Alumni Awards Program

2020 – Cheryl (Schroeder) Stepney ‘70 (B.A. History)
Retired President & Chief Technology Officer at Empowerment Associates, LLC. She resides in Bloomington, MN.

2019 – Margaret (Kennedy) Benoit ‘69 (B.A. English)
Retired Educator at Joliet School District 86. She resides in Joliet, IL. 

2018 – William “Bill” ‘82 & Patricia “Trish”
(Banks) ‘83 Bellah
Bill is retired founder/CEO of Compass Chemical International, LLC and current member of USF’s Board of Trustees

2017 – Wilhelmine Vidmar ’68 (B.S., Biology)
Adjunct Faculty at Joliet Junior College, Bridal Seamstress at White Satin Bridal, and Alumni Board Member (and past president) since 1973

2016 – Brendan ’05 and Jessica (Saraga ’05) Walsh
Brendan is co-owner and camera freelance operator and Jessica is co-owner and producer at Great Lakes Media in Joliet, Ill.

2015 – The Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate
Founders and Sponsoring Congregation of the University of St. Francis

2014 – Roniece Weaver ’89
Partner & Executive Director at Hebni Nutrition Consultant (M.S. Health Services Administration)

2013 – Candice Rosen ’88
Owner & Health Counselor at Candice Rosen Health Counseling, LLC in Chicago, Ill.

2012 – Jo Ann (McDonald) Barber ‘52
Retired Teacher

2011 – Craig Herkert II ’81
President/CEO, Supervalu Inc.

2020 –  Julie McCabe-Sterr ’75 (B.A. Social Work)
Problem Solving Court Coordinator at the Office of the Will County State’s Attorney. She resides in Plainfield, IL.

2019 – Julius Patterson ‘13 (BSW Social Work)
MTSS Behavior Specialist and Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Thorton Township High School. He resides in Harvey, IL.

2018 – Lillian (Doleshek) Buckley ’72 (B.A., History)
Development Director of Bridgeport Catholic Academy

2017 – Robert Obrohta ’88 (B.A., Political Science)
Executive Director of the Tennessee College Access and Success Network

2016 – Robert Zak ’83 (Journalism/Communications)
Radio Personality, Marketing Executive in Plainfield, IL

2015 – Kasia Wereszczynska ’06 (Psychology)
Crisis Worker at Ada S. McKinley Community Services in Chicago, IL

2014 – Dr. John Harper ’81
Principal of Providence Catholic High School, New Lenox, IL. (B.A. Political Science)

2013 – Mary Jo Moran ’69
Executive Director of the National Association of Church Personnel Administrators in Cincinnati, OH

2012 – Sr. Jeanne Bessette OSF, Ed.D. ‘77
President of DePaul Cristo Rey High School in Cincinnati

2011 – Cheryl (Schroeder) Stepney ’70
CEO, Empowerment Associates

2020 – Teresa Andrea ’15 (M.S. Health Administration)
Vice President, Chief Information Officer at Silver Cross Hospital. She resides in Tinley Park, IL.

2019 – Caroline Portlock ’02, ‘04 (B.S. Professional Arts, MBA Business Administration)
Director of Workforce Investment Board of Will County. She resides in Shorewood, IL.

2018 –Brian Bain ’02 (BBA, Management)
President of Tri-City Wolverines Youth Football & Cheer

2017 – DeWitt Buchanan ’89 (BBA, Finance)
Managing Director at Safe Harbor Retirement Consultants, LLC

2016 – Lisa Nichols ’07, ’09
Administrator at St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital in Pell City, Ala.

2015 – Laura (Dunlap) Messineo ’11, ’15
System Manager TeleHealth Operations at Presence Health Hospitals across Illinois

2014 – Alan Randolph ’07
Director of Sustainability at DNV GL Energy

2013 – James Ostrom ’07
Executive Director at OSF HealthCare System in Peoria, Ill.

2012 – Roger Forgey ‘96
President and CEO of Erlanger medical Center at Hutcheson

2011 – Kathleen (Hettiger) O’Neill ’90
Senior Director of Quality Initiatives, American Heart Association

2020 –Dr. Peter Sullivan ’15 (Ed. D. Educational Leadership)
Assistant Regional Superintendent at the Will County Regional Office of Education. He resides in Lockport, IL.

2019 –Patricia Arias ’08, ‘11 (B.A. Elementary Education, M.S. Teaching & Learning)
Bilingual Teacher at Joliet School District 86. She resides in Joliet, IL.

2018 – Holly Bontkowski ‘93 (B.A., Elementary Education)
Curriculum Project Manager at Naperville School District 203

2017 – Timothy Reilly ’11 (M.S., Educational Leadership)
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum at Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210

2016 – Suzanne Knoelk ’05, ’10
Reading Specialist at New Lenox School District 122 in New Lenox, Ill.

2015 – Daniel Markun ’13
Academy Coordinator of the Health and Medicine and Human Services Academies at Joliet West High School in Joliet, IL

2014 – Mary Jane Papesh ’93
Teacher at Valley View School District 365 U

2013 – Rita Guzman ’02, ’10, ’11
K-5 Lead ESL/Bilingual Teacher at Valley View School District 365U in Romeoville/Bolingbrook, IL

2012 – Cheryl McCarthy Ed.D. ‘86
Superintendent, Joliet Township High School District

2011 – Kathleen (DeGeus) Barker ’86
Principal, Troy Craughwell School

2020 – Raquel Prendkowski ’02 (BSN Nursing)
Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Mount Sinai Hospital. She resides in Homer Glen, IL.

2019 – Lisa Pittman ’00, ’10, ‘13 (B.S. Health Arts, M.S. Health Administration, MSN Nursing Administration)
Assistant Vice President (AVP) Patient Care Services at Cancer Treatment Centers of America – Chicago. She resides in Naperville, IL.

2018 –Dayna (Bernstein) Jaynstein ‘09 (M.S., Physician Assistant Studies)
Assistant Director, PA-C at Red Rocks Community College

2017 – Annette Mattea ’13 (DNP, Nursing)
Associate Professor in the Leach College of Nursing at the University of St. Francis

2016 – Sheri Pieroni ’09
Vascular Access Specialist at Presence Health in Joliet, Ill.

2015 – Dr. Mary (Lauric) Petrella ’78
Nurse practitioner for Edward Hines VA Hospital at the Joliet community-based outpatient and home-based primary care clinic

2014 – Dr. Jean Mau ’80, ’12 
Advanced practice nurse at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

2013 – Jacqueline Edmonson ’63, ’88, ’94
Retired director of Surgical Services at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Ill.

2012 – Cheryl Brubaker ‘04
Nurse Practitioner, Albuquerque School District and USF faculty

2011 – Madeline (DePodest) Golobitsch ’64
Retired Nurse, Joliet Area Community Hospice

Alumni Association Board President Award – presented to alumni that have earned their doctorate degrees and established themselves as nationally known professionals in the field of higher education.

2009 – Donald D. Maier, Ph.D., P. Log. ’89

2008 – Patricia (Forsythe) Campbell, Ph.D. ’70

2007 – Joanne Hostrander, Ph.D., M.S., RN ‘89, ‘98

2006 – Daniel M. Merkle, Ph.D ‘87

2005 – Wayne Hochwarter, Ph.D. ‘86

Award of Merit – presented to alumni who exemplify the spirit of St. Francis by demonstrating continual understanding and support of the university’s educational and service mission.

2009 – Angela DeCraene ‘06

2008 – Jodi (Zier) Ackeret ’96, ’02

2007 – Dorothy Resh ‘64, ‘84

2006 – Diane Nilan ’73

2005 – LCDR Frank Slattery, USN ’80

2004 – Mary Kay Softcheck Blake ’70

2003 – Linda Archambeau Kilroy ‘72

2002 – Sister M. Clare Edward Whalen, O.S.F. ‘45

2001 – Anna Louise Louis Masching ‘46

2000 – Anne Von Esch (Posthumous) ‘50
2000 – Maryellen Hutchings Groznik ‘45

1999 – Marcia Burchardt Bianco ’64

1998 – Frances Tures Naal ‘58

1997 – No Reunion. Double Reunion in 1998 due to the split of Homecoming and Reunion

1996 – Mary Ann Rill Chevigny ‘56

1995 – Anne Hutchings Webster ‘50
1995 – Phyllis F. Adams ‘55

1994 – Mary Jane Dilger Fudacz ‘49
1994 – Shirley Vescovi Hayes ‘49
1994 – Jeanne Dunn Gasvoda ‘44
1994 – Sr. Catherine Pesche ‘39

1993 – Janine Lukowski Hicks ‘73
1993 – Mary Ann Bonkowski Duderstadt ‘68
1993 – Frances Lucas Roger ‘63
1993 – Nancy Ward Skuta ‘58
1993 – Frances Bergold Waranius ‘53
1993 – Jeanne Hodgin Hampson ‘43
1993 – Margaret McAuley Probst ‘38
1993 – Charlotte Haas Puzzo ‘33

1992 – Coletta Fitzgerald Schomburg ‘42
1992 – Joyce Klinger ‘67
1992 – Marian Masters Fairbairn ‘47
1992 – Sr. Margaret Duffy ‘47
1992 – JoAnn McDonald Barber ‘52

1990 – Judy Pavell DeMint ‘60

1989 – Sr. Loretta Tures ‘38

1987 – Charles Szoke ‘78

1986 – Sr. Ambrose Didier ‘38

1985 – Lois Bydalek Johnson ‘57

1984 – Gloria Sergen Wilson ‘63

Joann Placher Award – presented to alumni who exemplified the Franciscan spirit through contributions to society and have a value-centered professional and/or family life.

2009 – Arlene Franz ‘84 

2008 – Sally Rundquist, RN  ’95

2007 – Anne-Marie Udell ’04

2006 – Frances Waranius ’53

2005 – Mike Brennan ’81 and Ron Kenny ’81

2004 – Vincent Cornelius ’86 

2003 – Bernice Borek Leracz ’62

2002 – Anne Agnes Ludrovec Mergen*  ‘42

2002 – Sr. Loretta Wagner, O.S.F. ‘40

2001 – Sr. Mary Kathryn Himens ‘51

2000 – Eugenia Austin Bank ‘40

1999 –George Block ‘79

1998 – Sr. Marie Grunloh ‘42

1997 – No Reunion. Double Reunion took place in 1998 because of the split between Homecoming and Reunion.

1996 – Alice Davies Wirt ‘66

1995 – Lois Miller Kingsbury ‘45

1995 – Sr. Elizabeth Marie Klepec ‘50

1994 – Jeanette O’Donnell D’Arcy ‘49

1993 – Margaret McFarland Haley ‘40 

1992 – Mary Lou Lapasso Schuster ‘67 

1991 – Dr.  Barb Watters ‘80 

1990 – Sr.  Clare Edward Whalen ‘45

1988 – Sr.  Vivian Whitehead, O. S. F. ‘50

1986 – Carolyn Tomecek Murphy ‘65

1985 – Margaret Donovan Moser ‘36

1984 – Josephine Dominik Smialek ‘80

Outstanding Young Alumni Award – presented to alumni who graduated within the last 10 years and have excelled beyond their peers in the areas of leadership and professional success and/or served their community or the university selflessly.

2009 – David Wildebrandt ‘97, ‘02

2008 – Margaret Covelli ‘03

2007 – Erica Lucik ‘01

2006 – Debra Rogan ‘98

2005 – Daniel Koch ‘02

2004 – Yvonne Lees ‘92

2003 – Steven Vanisko ‘86

Professional Achievement Award – presented to alumni who demonstrated professional achievement and leadership as well as continued support of USF. This award honors alumni who achieved personal success and made outstanding contributions to their chosen fields that were widely recognized and lauded by their colleagues.

2009 – Sheri Matter ‘90, ‘07

2008 – Karla Perez ’92

2007 – Steven Randich ’79

2006 – Michael McGreal ‘01

2005 – Virginia Matthews ’72

2003 – Dr. Jill Richard Kickul ‘91

2002 – Karen Wilken ’92

2001 – Dolores Torres Kenney ‘56

2000 – Leona Kowalski Laouras ‘64
2000 – Sr. M. Peter Didier, O.S.F. ‘43, ’52

1999 – Dr. Rosemary Lucas ’49

1998 – Sandra Lawrence Miesel ‘62

1996 – Sandra Novak Montrose ‘61

1995 – Dr. Patricia F. Campbell ‘70
1995 – Mr. Elmer Eddy ‘80
1995 – Mr. Stephen Meehan ‘80

1994 – Jeanne Anne Sweeney ‘54
1994 – Sr.  Joan Preising ‘39
1994 – Virginia Cronin Pitts ‘54

1993 – Dr.  Therese Southgate ‘48
1993 – Charlotte Ginnetti Ponto ‘63
1993 – Valerie Gambino Weilmuenster ‘78

1992 – Gayle Yoksas Altur ‘72
1992 – Jan McCoy ‘84

1991 – Dr.  Greg Thomsen ‘85
1991 – Dr.  Gail Jamieson ‘61
1991 – Dr.  Maria Patterson ‘61

1990 – Juanita Kinder Martin ‘54

1989 – Sr.  Mariarthur Hamann ‘45

1988 – Debora Lazorik ‘77 

1987 – Jeanette Snyders ‘76

1986 – Dr.  Bernadine P. Branchaw ‘64
1986 – Margadette Moffatt Demet ‘47 
1986 – Sr.  Jean Lenz ‘52 

1985 – Jean Latz Griffin ‘65
1985 – Joanne McCure ‘76
1985 – Sr. Mary Frances Seeley ‘64

1984 – Ruth Kerper Tofanelli ‘39
1984 – Fred Rundlet ‘83
1984 – Genevieve Wisniewski Buck ‘54