Alumni Award Winners 2012
The 2012 Siena Heights University Alumni Awards have been announced. Here are this year’s recipients, who were honored Oct. 5 during Homecoming Weekend:
Recent Graduate Award: Traci Stewart ’02 (Northville, Mich.
)
A soccer player and biology graduate of Siena with a minor in philosophy, Traci has gone on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing and is currently working on her Doctorate of Nursing Practice. She is a certified Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. With special interests in women’s health and vulnerable populations, Traci works as an ER Nurse Practitioner at hospitals in Southfield, Novi and Jackson.
Sister Ann Joachim Award: Anne (Birnbryer) MacMillan Eichman ’67 (San Diego, Calif.)
Formerly an inner-city high school teacher and advertising professional in Detroit, Anne is now a full-time volunteer, advocating at all levels to improve quality of life in the San Diego community. Working in many capacities and many venues, she has helped lead the fight to maintain public libraries and after-school services, to develop and support food/shelter/health care services for the homeless, and to protect neighborhoods from urban decay.
Sister Ann Joachim Award: Sister Patricia Siemen, OP ’72 (Orlando, Fla.)
A civil attorney who has focused in the past on voting rights, legal services
for the poor, environmental issues and congregational leadership, Pat founded the Center for Earth Jurisprudence at the law schools of St. Thomas and Barry universities in Florida in 2006, and the Earth Law Center in 2008. She is an internationally recognized advocate for new approaches to law and governance that recognize the interdependence of nature, humanity, and Earth’s inhabitants.
Saint Dominic Award: Sister Angela Susalla, OP ’63, ’70 (Tunica, Miss.)
After 25 years of elementary and high school teaching, Sister Angela
redirected her career to parish ministry and social work. For the past 29 years, with Catholic Social Services, she has ministered to the poor in what was for years the poorest county in the U.S. She has focused especially on two areas: providing adequate housing (and basic home-owner skills) for low- and very low-income families, and mentoring teenage mothers while working to prevent teen pregnancy.
Outstanding Alumni Award: Douglas Miller ’74, ’83 (Adrian, Mich.)
Starting as a freshman in 1970, Doug has been part of Siena Heights for 42
years, the last 33 as a member of the theater faculty. Now a full professor, chair of the theater program and director of technical theater, he has prepared generations of alumni for successful on-stage and back-stage theater careers. Along the way, he has directed and designed innumerable productions at Siena, at the Croswell Opera House, and on regional, national and international stages; and has led numerous New York City theater trips for students and several international tours for students and alumni.
Honorary Alumni Award: Sister Patricia Schnapp, RSM (Adrian, Mich.)
Now completing her 25th year as a member of the English faculty at Siena
Heights, Sister Pat’s record – as a creative and inspiring teacher, accomplished author/editor, dependable mentor and fan of Siena students, dedicated prison volunteer, tireless organizer and supporter of Share the Warmth homeless shelter, lover of literature, and faith-filled friend to all at the University – qualifies her as a true Saint and the newest member of the Alumni Association.
Alumni Awards Information
Nomination Procedures
Nominations for Alumni Association awards are welcome at any time. Award winners are usually selected each spring and honored during Homecoming Weekend. Nominations remain in the candidate pool for consideration for up to three years.
Alumni awards are open to graduates of Siena Heights University including Siena Heights College and St. Joseph College. The Honorary Alumni Award is presented to persons who are NOT graduates of Siena Heights.
Potential honorees may be nominated for by SHU alumni, members of the faculty or staff, or other persons who know the nominee and the University well.
Final selection of award recipients rests with the Alumni Association Board of Directors, which reserves the right to consider a nominee for an award other than that suggested by the nominator. All awards may, but will not necessarily, be given annually.
Nominations must include:
- Name, class year (for Siena Heights graduates), address, phone number and email address of the candidate you wish to nominate.
- A description of the personal qualities, characteristics and professional or volunteer accomplishments that qualify the nominee for award consideration. (See award descriptions for specific award critieria.)
- Names of other person(s) or organization(s) who will provide support for the nomination and/or further information about the nominee. NOTE: It is the nominator’s responsibility to solicit additional support as appropriate; at least two such testimonials are recommended.
- Your name (the nominator) along with: your mailing address, phone number and email address; your class year if you a Siena Heights graduate; and your relationship to the person you are nominating.
Outstanding Alumni Award
The Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes alumni whose outstanding professional achievements and/or volunteer contributions promote Siena positively to the community; who demonstrate strong leadership characteristics; who serve as significant role models for others; and who embody the spirit of Siena Heights University.
Saint Dominic Award
The Saint Dominic Award recognizes an alumna or alumnus for commitment to Christian education in family, school or community. Named for the 12th century Spanish nobleman who founded the Dominican order, the award honors persons who embody the Dominican philosophy and the spirit of Siena, and who promote pride in Christian ethics and education.
Sister Ann Joachim Award
The Sister Ann Joachim Award is presented in memory of faculty member Sister Ann Joachim, OP, and recognizes significant contributions to the University and/or community through activities that demonstrate strong leadership, the ability to get things done, and the capacity to confront issues head on while maintaining the image and spirit of the University.
Recent Graduate Award
The Recent Graduate Award recognizes alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years, and whose professional achievement, community involvement and/or civic commitment demonstrate dedication to Christian values and the spirit of Siena Heights University.
Honorary Alumni Award
The Honorary Alumni Award recognizes non-alumni of Siena Heights who demonstrate exceptional commitment to and support for the mission and spirit of the University. Individuals selected for honorary alumni status shall be inspirational role models who have made a significant difference for Siena Heights by sharing themselves through generous and sustained gifts of time, talent and/or treasure.
For a printable nomination form, click here.
Send or email nominations to:
alumni@sienaheights.edu
Alumni Relations Office
Siena Heights University
1247 East Siena Heights Drive
Adrian, MI 49221
Past Alumni Award Winners
Outstanding Alumni Award
1977 Barbara Dumouchelle ‘51=
1978 Marycatherine McCarty ‘45
1979 Miriam M. Stimson, OP ‘36=
1980 Margaret F. Flanagan ‘44=
1981 Lena Sylvester ‘49=
1982 A. Evelyn Capoun ‘48
1983 Mary Ann McRobert ‘79
1984 Eileen Rice, OP ‘68=
1985 Pilar Cruz Lujan ‘55
1986 Marie Irene Miller, OP ‘36=
1987 Dorothy Browne, OP ‘32=
1988 Frances Bock Nowakowski ‘48
1989 Jean Cecile Hunt, OP ‘39=
1990 Nancy J. Potter ‘78
1991 Anthonita Porta, OP ‘63
1992 Donita Sullivan ‘52
1993 Helen Duggan, OP ‘41
1994 Nadine Foley, OP ‘45
1996-97 Anna Bakeman Tompert ‘38
1997-98 Kenneth B. Phillips ‘75
1998-99 Mary Duggan Cassabon ‘48
1999-00 Tim Bauer ‘82
2001 Judith McNally Redwine ‘66
2002 Karla Grohman Dunn ‘64
2003 Kenneth Thompson ‘77
2004 Karen Erickson ‘60
2005 Maurine Barzantni, OP ‘59
Renee Richie, OP ‘60
2006 Iqbal Roshd ’83
2007 John Detro
2008 Susan Kelly ’69
2009 Jacob Chi ’85
Tod Marshall ’90
2010 Jamie Richardson ’87
Allan Rodewald ’80
2011 Matthew Schwartz ’88, ’97 ’80
2012 Douglas Miller ’74, ’83
Recent Graduate Award
1984 Lawrence Richardson, Jr. ‘76
1985 Rodney Houchins ‘81
1986 Charles Fort ‘74
1987 Michael Griffin ‘80
1988 Mary Jean Klebba ‘85
1989 Ann Johnston Hughes ‘82
1992 Philip Abele ‘79
1993 Michael B. Quinn ‘85
1996-97 Patrick F. Irwin ‘86
1999-00 Mary Helen Kloeckner Halley ‘89
2001 Denise M. Keeley ‘88=
2002 Margaret Smith Randle ‘99
2003 Anna Rodriguez-Webber ‘98
2005 Mark Murray ‘97 MA
Mary Murray ‘97 MA
2006 Seyed-Jalal Hosseini ’96
2008 Judy Drake ’00
2009 Anthony Butler ’04
2010 Harold Love ’08
2011 Lacey Wilmot Rao ’02
2012 Traci Stewart ’02
Sister Ann Joachim Award
1984 Jane Korte Waldo ‘53
1985 Cecelia Schwartz ‘73
1986 Mary Poore ‘76
1987 Alice Robie Resnick ‘61
1988 William Kressbach ‘72
1989 Matilda Szaroletta ‘66
1990 Connie Berube Binsfeld ‘45
1991 Julie Hyer, OP ‘72
1992 Margaret Scholz Noe ‘75
1993 Evangeline Davis, OP ‘38
1994 David Ballenberger ‘72
1997-98 Deborah Carrington Keller ‘74
1998-99 Tarianne DeYonker, OP ‘70
1999-00 Sharon Weber, OP ‘69
2001 Dorothy V. Gonzales ‘78
2002 Donna Kustusch, OP ‘63
2003 Daniel Malley ‘85
2004 Emery Harlan ‘86
2005 Carol Fowler ‘66
2006 Mary Ann Flannery, SC ’64
2007 Sister Mary Alan Stuart, OP ’62
2008 Karen Verlinden ’68
2009 Gabrielle Davis ’85
2010 Trudy McSorley ’70
2011 Mary Jane Lubinski, OP ’73
2012 Anne Birnbryer MacMillan Eichman ’67
Sister Patricia Siemen, OP ’72
Saint Dominic Award
1983 Marjory Thompson Iott ‘49
1984 Jeanne Olivier Riesterer ‘47
1985 Betty Solem Clifford ‘46=
1986 Gayle VanHavel ‘76=
1987 Therese Craig, OP ‘48
1988 Therese Roekle-Wales ‘68
1989 Judith Lavelle ‘58
1990 Dennis Frandrup, OSB ‘73
1991 Veronica Tamm, OP ’56
1992 Beatrice Cunningham Meyer ‘32=
1993 Mary Jo Stolpmann Fleming ‘47
1994 Juanita Flores, OP ‘74=
1996-97 Patricia F. Walter, OP ‘66
1997-98 Barbara Cervenka, OP ‘64
1998-99 Jean Agnes Klemm, OP ‘44
1999-00 Joan Delaplane, OP ‘56
2001 Barbara Chenicek, OP ‘57
Rita Schiltz, OP ‘46
2002 Phyllis Kreiner, OP ‘65
Loretta May, OP ‘58, ‘63
2003 Mary Conway Stonehill Mullins ‘54=
2004 Patricia Brady, OP ‘63
2005 Nancyann Turner, OP ‘63
2006 Rosalie Esquerra, OP ’65
2007 Patricia McDonald, OP ’69
2008 Mark DiPietro ’83
2009 Mary Beaubien, OP ’55
2010 Gregg Milligan ’85
2011 Mary Cele Kane Doyle ’64
2012 Sister Angela Susalla, OP ’63, ’70