Alumni Award nominations for 2023 can be made online before March 1, 2023. Click on the button to the left.
SAINT DOMINIC AWARD
The Saint Dominic Award winner is Delinda ‘Dee’ Crane (Class of 1987) of Blissfield, MI. Crane has had a long career in educating future teachers. She served as the SHU Teacher Education Director and went on to retire from Blissfield Community Schools as their principal. Crane went above and beyond to support her students both professionally and personally. She spent many hours teaching and supporting her students and continued to follow their careers both in and out of Lenawee County. The Saint Dominic Award recognizes commitment to Christian education in family, school, or community.
OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD
The recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award is Kermit Williams (Class of 2005) of Pontiac, MI. Williams is a public servant to the people of Oakland County and the city of Pontiac MI where he serves as President of the Pontiac City Council. He is also the co-executive director of Oakland Forward, a local non-profit that is dedicated to building power to remove economic, racial, and social barriers to provide opportunities for individuals, with a focus on people of color, in Oakland County. He is committed to fight for just and equitable public policy for all and to do his part in helping others live their best life. 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.
HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD
The Honorary Alumni Award winner is retired Siena Heights University Chief Information Officer, Robert ‘Bob’ Metz of Adrian, MI. Metz retired from SHU in August 2021 after 41 years of service to the university. Metz started in the data processing department at SHU with one other employee. In the 41 years since, the department grew to eight, full-time employees, two part-time employees and student workers. The university’s computing needs changed drastically as new technologies became available, from portable computers to the internet to smartphones. Metz also led the university through the COVD-19 pandemic to pivot the Adrian campus to online learning. 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.
SISTER ANN JOACHIM AWARD
The recipient of the Sister Ann Joachim Award is Amanda ‘Marti’ Martino (Class of 2013) of LaGrande, OR. After Martino graduated from SHU, she earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon. She is employed with the Blue Mountain Land Trust as Interim Executive Director. The Blue Mountain Land Trust’s mission is to protect the scenic, national, and working lands that characterize the Blue Mountain region in Oregon through collaboration with local communities and landowners. Martino’s hard work and dedication have helped make major strides in conversation easements in the region while preserving fish and wildlife habitats, forests, grasslands, and agricultural lands. 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
Receiving the Recent Graduate Award is Samuel Catrain Ruiz (Class of 2013). Catrain Ruiz is a Diplomat at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Washington, DC., responsible for Congressional Affairs. A life-long learner, Catrain Ruiz after graduating from SHU, worked in Chicago and India, then moved to China where he earned his MBA in Corporate Finance at the University of Science and Technology of China. 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.
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 commitment to Christian education in family, school or community.
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.
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. In order to be considered, all nominees are required to have a minimum of three support letters.
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, a Dominican university.
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.
Some helpful information to include in your nomination:
- 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; testimonials are recommended.
Alumni Award nominations can be made online. Nominations for 2022 awards must be received by March 1, 2022. Click on the button to the left.
† = deceased
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
2005 Renee Richie, OP ‘60
2006 Iqbal Roshd ’83
2007 John Detro ’85
2008 Susan Kelly ’69
2009 Jacob Chi ’85
2009 Tod Marshall ’90
2010 Jamie Richardson ’87
2010 Allan Rodewald ’80
2011 Matthew Schwartz ’88, ’97 ’80
2012 Douglas Miller ’74, ’83
2013 Michael Morgan ’83
2013 Jason Sanderson ’92
2014 Darrell Issa ’76
2015 Michael Donovan ’75
2016 Catherine DeClerq, OP ’58
2016 Sharon McGuire, OP ’68 (posthumously) †
2017 Dr. Kyle Griffith ’92, ’97MA, ’00Spec.
2018 Michael Lane ’05
2019 Harold J. Love ’98, ’13
2020 Jere Righter ’95
2021 Angela Edward ‘09
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
2005 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
2013 Erika Wolcott Henry ’07
2014 Kyle Leighton ’13
2016 Amy Wertenberger ’08, ’11MA
2018 Thomas Thompson ’09
2019 Zach Bailey ’14
2020 Ryan Bernard Tymensky ’10
2021 Mitchell B. Prater ‘18
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 Gregg Milligan ’85
2011 Mary Jane Lubinski, OP ’73
2012 Anne Birnbryer MacMillan Eichman ’67
2012 Sister Patricia Siemen, OP ’72
2013 Catherine Zick Robinson ’69
2014 Colleen Lewis Aguilar ’04, ’06
2015 Jacqueline Battalora ’88
2016 Patty Driscoll-Shaw ’70
2017 Margaret Lawler Michael ’82, ’85MA
2018 Paula Zimmer ’69
2019 Melissa Kirsch Sissen ’77
2020 Joseph Williams ’88
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
2001 Rita Schiltz, OP ‘46
2002 Phyllis Kreiner, OP ‘65
2002 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 Trudy McSorley ’70
2011 Mary Cele Kane Doyle ’64
2012 Sister Angela Susalla, OP ’63, ’70
2013 Sister Jean Joseph Hughes, OP ’68†
2014 Dr. Thomas Bilan ’92
2015 Lois Hueneman Chazaud ’49
2016 Katie Guilbault Decker ’89
2017 Sister Paticia Dulka, OP ’68
2018 Sean Jorgensen ’95
2018 Beth McCullough ’86
2019 Sister John Norton OP ’57
2020 Damon Sloan ’07
2021 Julianne Dolan ‘76
HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD
2011 Dr. Michael Dawson
2012 Sister Patricia Schnapp, RSM
2013 Jennifer Hamlin Church
2015 Deborah Carter
2016 Dr. Louis Vaccaro
2017 Dr. Mark Schersten
2018 Dr. Robert Gordon
2019 Norman A. Bukwaz
2020 Sandy Vanderlaan
2021 C. Patrick Palmer
† = deceased