The 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented Thursday, October 9 at 5 p.m. in San Damiano Hall.
College Awards: Each of our four colleges selects an exemplary alumnus/a with outstanding professional and personal success and/or involvement in civic, cultural or charitable activities.
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Business & Health Administration
College of Education
Leach College of Nursing
Presidential Award Winner: In addition to the above awards, each year, our president selects someone who has made an impact at the university or within their profession or community. This deserving individual will be honored along with the college award recipients.
Distinguished Alumni Awards Highlight: Distinguished Alumni Award winners are honored at our annual Homecoming & Reunion celebration each fall. Winners are also promoted on social media, via a press release, on our web page, and featured in the university鈥檚 Engaging Mind & Spirit magazine.
Questions:听Contact the Alumni & Family Relations Office at 877-811-ALUM or听alumni@stfrancis.edu.
2022 鈥 Theresa Lee 鈥57 (B.A. Philosophy)
Retired Deputy Director of Operations, U.S. Government Agencies
2020 鈥 Cheryl (Schroeder) Stepney 鈥70 (B.A. History)
Retired President & Chief Technology Officer at Empowerment Associates, LLC. She resides in Bloomington, MN.
2019 鈥 Margaret (Kennedy) Benoit 鈥69 (B.A. English)
Retired Educator at Joliet School District 86. She resides in Joliet, IL.听
2018 鈥 William 鈥淏ill鈥 鈥82 & Patricia 鈥淭rish鈥
(Banks) 鈥83 Bellah
Bill is retired founder/CEO of听Compass Chemical International, LLC and听current member of USF鈥檚 Board of Trustees
2017 鈥 Wilhelmine Vidmar 鈥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 鈥撎鼴rendan 鈥05 and Jessica (Saraga 鈥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 鈥撎齌he听Sisters of St. 糖心APP of Mary Immaculate
Founders and Sponsoring Congregation of the University of St. 糖心APP
2014 鈥撎Roniece Weaver 鈥89
Partner & Executive Director at Hebni Nutrition Consultant (M.S. Health Services Administration)
2013 鈥撎Candice Rosen 鈥88
Owner & Health Counselor at Candice Rosen Health Counseling, LLC in Chicago, Ill.
2012 鈥撎Jo Ann (McDonald) Barber 鈥52
Retired Teacher
2011 鈥撎Craig Herkert II 鈥81
President/CEO, Supervalu Inc.
2022 鈥 Frank Huette 鈥93 (B.A. Political Science)
CEO, Liberty Home Products
2020 鈥 听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 鈥 Julius Patterson 鈥13 (BSW Social Work)
MTSS Behavior Specialist and Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Thorton Township High School. He resides in Harvey, IL.
2018 鈥 Lillian (Doleshek) Buckley 鈥72 (B.A., History)
Development Director of Bridgeport Catholic Academy
2017 鈥撎齊obert Obrohta 鈥88听(B.A., Political Science)
Executive Director of the Tennessee College Access and Success Network
2016 鈥撎齊obert Zak 鈥83 (Journalism/Communications)
Radio Personality, Marketing Executive in Plainfield, IL
2015 鈥撎齂asia Wereszczynska 鈥06 (Psychology)
Crisis Worker at Ada S. McKinley Community Services in Chicago, IL
2014 鈥撎Dr. John Harper 鈥81
Principal of Providence Catholic High School, New Lenox, IL. (B.A. Political Science)
2013 鈥撎Mary Jo Moran 鈥69
Executive Director of the National Association of Church Personnel Administrators in Cincinnati, OH
2012 鈥撎Sr. Jeanne Bessette OSF, Ed.D. 鈥77
President of DePaul Cristo Rey High School in Cincinnati
2011 鈥撎Cheryl (Schroeder) Stepney 鈥70
CEO, Empowerment Associates
2022 鈥 Dr. David Schreiner 鈥93
President & CEO, Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital
2020 鈥 Teresa Andrea ’15 (M.S. Health Administration)
Vice President, Chief Information Officer at Silver Cross Hospital. She resides in Tinley Park, IL.
2019 鈥 Caroline Portlock 鈥02, 鈥04 (B.S. Professional Arts, MBA Business Administration)
Director of Workforce Investment Board of Will County. She resides in Shorewood, IL.
2018 鈥揃rian Bain 鈥02 (BBA, Management)
President of Tri-City Wolverines Youth Football & Cheer
2017 鈥 DeWitt Buchanan 鈥89 (BBA, Finance)
Managing Director at Safe Harbor Retirement Consultants, LLC
2016 鈥撎齃isa Nichols 鈥07, 鈥09
Administrator at St. Vincent鈥檚 St. Clair Hospital in Pell City, Ala.
2015 鈥撎齃aura (Dunlap) Messineo 鈥11, 鈥15
System Manager TeleHealth Operations at Presence Health Hospitals across Illinois
2014 鈥撎Alan Randolph 鈥07
Director of Sustainability at DNV GL Energy
2013 鈥撎James Ostrom 鈥07
Executive Director at OSF HealthCare System in Peoria, Ill.
2012 鈥撎Roger Forgey 鈥96
President and CEO of Erlanger medical Center at Hutcheson
2011 鈥撎Kathleen (Hettiger) O鈥橬eill 鈥90
Senior Director of Quality Initiatives, American Heart Association
2022 鈥 Dr. Lori Motsch 鈥99, 鈥15 (M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction, Ed.D. Educational Leadership)
Superintendent, New Lenox School District #122
2020 鈥 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 鈥 Patricia Arias 鈥08, 鈥11 (B.A. Elementary Education, M.S. Teaching & Learning)
Bilingual Teacher at Joliet School District 86. She resides in Joliet, IL.
2018 鈥 Holly Bontkowski 鈥93 (B.A., Elementary Education)
Curriculum Project Manager at Naperville School District 203
2017 鈥 Timothy Reilly 鈥11 (M.S., Educational Leadership)
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum at Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210
2016 鈥撎齋uzanne Knoelk 鈥05, 鈥10
Reading Specialist at New Lenox School District 122 in New Lenox, Ill.
2015 鈥 Daniel Markun ’13
Academy Coordinator of the Health and Medicine and Human Services Academies at Joliet West High School in Joliet, IL
2014 鈥撎Mary Jane Papesh 鈥93
Teacher at Valley View School District 365 U
2013 鈥撎Rita Guzman 鈥02, 鈥10, 鈥11
K-5 Lead ESL/Bilingual Teacher at Valley View School District 365U in Romeoville/Bolingbrook, IL
2012 鈥撎Cheryl McCarthy Ed.D. 鈥86
Superintendent, Joliet Township High School District
2011 鈥撎Kathleen (DeGeus) Barker 鈥86
Principal, Troy Craughwell School
2022 鈥 April Kubinski 鈥08, 鈥13 (BSN Nursing, MSN Nursing -Family Nurse Practitioner)
and Amy Vertin 鈥13 (MSN Nursing -Family Nurse Practitioner)
Co-Owners, Emediate Cure Quick Care
2020 鈥 Raquel Prendkowski ’02 (BSN Nursing)
Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Mount Sinai Hospital. She resides in Homer Glen, IL.
2019 鈥 Lisa Pittman 鈥00, 鈥10, 鈥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 鈥揇ayna (Bernstein) Jaynstein 鈥09 (M.S., Physician Assistant Studies)
Assistant Director, PA-C at Red Rocks Community College
2017 鈥 Annette Mattea 鈥13 (DNP, Nursing)
Associate Professor in the Leach College of Nursing at the University of St. 糖心APP
2016 鈥撎齋heri Pieroni 鈥09
Vascular Access Specialist at Presence Health in Joliet, Ill.
2015 鈥撎鼶r. Mary (Lauric) Petrella 鈥78
Nurse practitioner for Edward Hines VA Hospital at the Joliet community-based outpatient and home-based primary care clinic
2014 鈥撎Dr. Jean Mau 鈥80, 鈥12听
Advanced practice nurse at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
2013 鈥撎Jacqueline Edmonson 鈥63, 鈥88, 鈥94
Retired director of Surgical Services at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Ill.
2012 鈥撎Cheryl Brubaker 鈥04
Nurse Practitioner, Albuquerque School District and USF faculty
2011 鈥撎Madeline (DePodest) Golobitsch 鈥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 鈥 Donald D. Maier, Ph.D., P. Log. ’89
2008 鈥 Patricia (Forsythe) Campbell, Ph.D. ’70
2007 鈥 Joanne Hostrander, Ph.D., M.S., RN 鈥89, 鈥98
2006 鈥 Daniel M. Merkle, Ph.D 鈥87
2005 鈥 Wayne Hochwarter, Ph.D. 鈥86
Award of Merit – presented to alumni who exemplify the spirit of St. 糖心APP by demonstrating continual understanding and support of the university’s educational and service mission.
2009 鈥 Angela DeCraene 鈥06
2008 鈥 Jodi (Zier) Ackeret 鈥96, 鈥02
2007 鈥 Dorothy Resh 鈥64, 鈥84
2006 鈥 Diane Nilan 鈥73
2005 鈥 LCDR Frank Slattery, USN 鈥80
2004 鈥 Mary Kay Softcheck Blake 鈥70
2003 鈥 Linda Archambeau Kilroy 鈥72
2002 鈥 Sister M. Clare Edward Whalen, O.S.F. 鈥45
2001 鈥 Anna Louise Louis Masching 鈥46
2000 鈥 Anne Von Esch (Posthumous) 鈥50
2000 鈥 Maryellen Hutchings Groznik 鈥45
1999 鈥 Marcia Burchardt Bianco 鈥64
1998 鈥 Frances Tures Naal 鈥58
1997 鈥 No Reunion.听Double Reunion in 1998 due to听the split of Homecoming and听Reunion
1996 鈥 Mary Ann Rill Chevigny 鈥56
1995 鈥 Anne Hutchings Webster 鈥50
1995 鈥 Phyllis F. Adams 鈥55
1994 鈥 Mary Jane Dilger Fudacz 鈥49
1994 鈥 Shirley Vescovi Hayes 鈥49
1994 鈥 Jeanne Dunn Gasvoda 鈥44
1994 鈥 Sr. Catherine Pesche 鈥39
1993 鈥 Janine Lukowski Hicks 鈥73
1993 鈥 Mary Ann Bonkowski Duderstadt 鈥68
1993 鈥 Frances Lucas Roger 鈥63
1993 鈥 Nancy Ward Skuta 鈥58
1993 鈥 Frances Bergold Waranius 鈥53
1993 鈥 Jeanne Hodgin Hampson 鈥43
1993 鈥 Margaret McAuley Probst 鈥38
1993 鈥 Charlotte Haas Puzzo 鈥33
1992 鈥 Coletta Fitzgerald Schomburg 鈥42
1992 鈥 Joyce Klinger 鈥67
1992 鈥 Marian Masters Fairbairn 鈥47
1992 鈥 Sr. Margaret Duffy 鈥47
1992 鈥 JoAnn McDonald Barber 鈥52
1990 鈥 Judy Pavell DeMint 鈥60
1989 鈥 Sr. Loretta Tures 鈥38
1987 鈥 Charles Szoke 鈥78
1986 鈥 Sr. Ambrose Didier 鈥38
1985 鈥 Lois Bydalek Johnson 鈥57
1984 鈥 Gloria Sergen Wilson 鈥63
Joann Placher Award – presented to alumni who exemplified the 糖心APPcan spirit through contributions to society and have a value-centered professional and/or family life.
2009 鈥 Arlene Franz 鈥84听
2008 鈥 Sally Rundquist, RN听 鈥95
2007 鈥 Anne-Marie Udell 鈥04
2006 鈥 Frances Waranius 鈥53
2005 鈥 Mike Brennan 鈥81 and Ron Kenny 鈥81
2004 鈥 Vincent Cornelius 鈥86听
2003 鈥 Bernice Borek Leracz 鈥62
2002 鈥 Anne Agnes Ludrovec Mergen*听 鈥42
2002 鈥 Sr. Loretta Wagner, O.S.F. 鈥40
2001 鈥 Sr. Mary Kathryn Himens 鈥51
2000 鈥 Eugenia Austin Bank 鈥40
1999 鈥George Block 鈥79
1998 鈥 Sr. Marie Grunloh 鈥42
1997 鈥撎No Reunion.听Double Reunion took place in 1998听because of the split between Homecoming and Reunion.
1996 鈥 Alice Davies Wirt 鈥66
1995 鈥 Lois Miller Kingsbury 鈥45
1995 鈥 Sr. Elizabeth Marie Klepec 鈥50
1994 鈥 Jeanette O鈥橠onnell D鈥橝rcy 鈥49
1993 鈥 Margaret McFarland Haley 鈥40听
1992 鈥 Mary Lou Lapasso Schuster 鈥67听
1991 鈥 Dr.听 Barb Watters 鈥80听
1990 鈥 Sr.听 Clare Edward Whalen 鈥45
1988 鈥 Sr.听 Vivian Whitehead, O. S. F. 鈥50
1986 鈥 Carolyn Tomecek Murphy 鈥65
1985 鈥 Margaret Donovan Moser 鈥36
1984 鈥 Josephine Dominik Smialek 鈥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 鈥 David Wildebrandt 鈥97, 鈥02
2008 鈥 Margaret Covelli 鈥03
2007 鈥 Erica Lucik 鈥01
2006 鈥 Debra Rogan 鈥98
2005 鈥 Daniel Koch 鈥02
2004 鈥 Yvonne Lees 鈥92
2003 鈥 Steven Vanisko 鈥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 鈥 Sheri Matter 鈥90, 鈥07
2008 鈥 Karla Perez 鈥92
2007 鈥 Steven Randich 鈥79
2006 鈥 Michael McGreal 鈥01
2005 鈥 Virginia Matthews ’72
2003 鈥 Dr. Jill Richard Kickul 鈥91
2002 鈥 Karen Wilken 鈥92
2001 鈥 Dolores Torres Kenney 鈥56
2000 鈥 Leona Kowalski Laouras 鈥64
2000 鈥 Sr. M. Peter Didier, O.S.F. 鈥43, 鈥52
1999 鈥 Dr. Rosemary Lucas 鈥49
1998 鈥 Sandra Lawrence Miesel 鈥62
1996 鈥 Sandra Novak Montrose 鈥61
1995 鈥 Dr. Patricia F. Campbell 鈥70
1995 鈥 Mr. Elmer Eddy 鈥80
1995 鈥 Mr. Stephen Meehan 鈥80
1994 鈥 Jeanne Anne Sweeney 鈥54
1994 鈥 Sr.听 Joan Preising 鈥39
1994 鈥 Virginia Cronin Pitts 鈥54
1993 鈥 Dr.听 Therese Southgate 鈥48
1993 鈥 Charlotte Ginnetti Ponto 鈥63
1993 鈥 Valerie Gambino Weilmuenster 鈥78
1992 鈥 Gayle Yoksas Altur 鈥72
1992 鈥 Jan McCoy 鈥84
1991 鈥 Dr.听 Greg Thomsen 鈥85
1991 鈥 Dr.听 Gail Jamieson 鈥61
1991 鈥 Dr.听 Maria Patterson 鈥61
1990 鈥撎Juanita Kinder Martin 鈥54
1989 鈥 Sr.听 Mariarthur Hamann 鈥45
1988 鈥 Debora Lazorik 鈥77听
1987 鈥 Jeanette Snyders 鈥76
1986 鈥 Dr.听 Bernadine P. Branchaw 鈥64
1986 鈥 Margadette Moffatt Demet 鈥47听
1986 鈥 Sr.听 Jean Lenz 鈥52听
1985 鈥 Jean Latz Griffin 鈥65
1985 鈥 Joanne McCure 鈥76
1985 鈥 Sr. Mary Frances Seeley 鈥64
1984 鈥撎Ruth Kerper Tofanelli 鈥39
1984 鈥撎Fred Rundlet 鈥83
1984 鈥 Genevieve Wisniewski Buck 鈥54