University of St. Francis honors alumni with awards
The
University of St. Francis honored alumni with
awards during Homecoming/Reunion, Sept. 28-29.
Awards were presented by USF President Michael
J. Vinciguerra and Alumni Association President
Wilhelmine Vidmar of Plainfield.
The
University of St. Francis in Joliet was founded
by the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate
(Joliet Franciscans) and has more than 30,000
alumni nationwide.
The Joann Placher Distinguished Alumni Award,
named in memory of Joann (Kelly) Placher a 1960
graduate who served as the first director of development
for the institution, was presented to Sister Loretta
Wagner, O.S.F. The award is presented to those
who exemplify the "spirit of St. Francis"
through contributions to society and through an
active professional and/or family life.
Sister
Loretta Wagner, a member of the Congregation of
the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate
in Joliet, has dedicated her life to the service
of God’s people through the profession of
nursing. From 1945-55 and 1956-60, she was assigned
as the nurse for students. She also taught health
education and home nursing as part of the curriculum
and made herself available to offer compassionate
counsel to students. "Nothing made me happier
during my years at St. Francis, than being a nurse;
of having a good rapport with the students, and
helping them become healthy adults, living fulfilled
and holistic lives. I pray daily for the many
students who have touched my life and am glad
for the opportunity to be of service to them,
said Sister Loretta.
A
second Joann Placher Distinguished Alumni Award
winner was given posthumously to Anne Agnes Ludrovec
Mergen, Class of 1942, who lived in Northlake,
Ill. Mergen was a WWII Army Corp nurse and lieutenant
in the Air Force Medical Unit. She graduated from
St. Joseph School of Nursing. She was a nurse
at Illinois Research Hospital Chicago, Hines V.A.
Hospital, IL Northlake Community Hospital and
St. Anne’s West Hospital. While raising four
children, she demonstrated church and community
involvement. The award was accepted by her sister
Lillian Hankovcak of Lockport, a 1946 graduate
of Saint Joseph College of Nursing.
The
Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award
is given to one who embodies the spirit of St.
Francis in life, demonstrates professional achievement
and leadership as well as an understanding and
continued support of the University of St. Francis.
Karen Wilken of Oak Ridge, Tenn. is the 2002 recipient.
Since
obtaining her master’s degree in Health Services
Administration in 1992, Wilken has served in a
variety of health care leadership roles. She has
been nursing program director at Roane State Community
College in Harriman, Tenn. She presently serves
as director of Clinical Services at Methodist
Medical Center/Covenant Health in Oak Ridge. Wilken
demonstrated dedicated support of the University
of St. Francis by organizing classes in the Oak
Ridge area.
Joan
Aiken, from Knoxville, Tenn, and a 1992 graduate,
who nominated Wilken for the award wrote "Karen
is that rare and special person who lives the
ideals of the University of St. Francis mission
– the love of knowledge and truth and the
zeal to live and proclaim them. She incorporates
these values in every position she holds and by
so doing, is an inspiration to others."
Alumni
Association Award of Merit is given to one who
exemplifies the spirit of the University of St.
Francis, demonstrates a continued understanding
of the university and supports its educational
and service mission. Sister M. Clare Edward Whalen,
O.S.F., a member of the Joliet Franciscans, earned
a scholarship to attend St. Francis, graduating
in 1945. She stayed at St. Francis to teach speech
and speech pathology from 1948–1980 and Freshman
Speech Core from 1980 to 1986. Retired from USF,
but is in private speech therapy.
The
University of St. Francis Alumni Association continued
its tradition of honoring those class members
celebrating their 50th reunion by inducting members
of the Class of 1952 into the Assisian Club. The
following members of the Class of 1952 were present
to be honored: Patricia (Bird) Duerinck of Oak
Brook; Rita (Millen) Kearns of Alexandria, Va.;
Sister Jean Lenz of Notre Dame, Ind.; Alice (Del
Favero) Lifka of Salem, S.C.; Rosemary A. Lux
of Joliet; Mary Louise (Craven) Martin of Homewood;
Marjorie (Anson) Nelson of Joliet; and Mary (Freiburg)
Wolff of Downers Grove.
Others
inducted into the Assisian Club include Sister
M. Marcelyn Adams of Joliet; Dolores R. (Powenski)
Allen of Worthington, Ohio; Jane Balmes of Lodi,
Ohio; JoAnn M. (McDonald) Barber of Joliet; Gerry
Boyle of Oak Lawn; Lois M. (Heine) Brun of Dayton,
Ohio; Bernadine (Arseneau) Buswell of Watseka;
Lillian (Todorovich) Caneva of Champaign; Jacqueline
Ek of Omaha, Neb.; Rosetta Elio of Kankakee; Sophie
(Groschopf) Gabrielsen of Elmhurst; Florence (Mullan)
Hannapel of Chicago Heights; Sister Gertrude Heurich
of Joliet; Sister Marie Therese Kaufman of Sigel,
Ill.; Hiltrude A.(Carrigan) Kleshinski of Mansfield,
Ohio; Carmen (Rivera) Kreil of Rio Piedras, Puerto
Rico; Theresa (Maroda) Langer of Fort Myers, Fla.;
June (Stamey) Loftiss of Indianapolis, Ind.; Lois
A. (Cobb) Maloney of Avon, Ill.; Mary E. (Wagner)
Martin of Manhattan; Ruth (Neison) Martinez of
Tinley Park; Bertha M. (Bischof) Mayer of Johnstown,
Pa.; Jean T. McCue of Sterling Ill.; Maryan (Lavric)
Merala of Davis, Calif.; Dorothy Miner of Delray
Beach, Fla.; Rosemary (Cronin) O'Connell of Huntington
Beach, Calif.; Anna (Franko) Orgon of Stockton,
Calif.; Sister Sophie Petro of Joliet; Patricia
(Brulc) Rolih of Joliet; Angela B. (Battaglia)
Rubin of Carbondale, Ill.; Fran (Hodor) Salvador
of Chicago; Carol J. (Caughey) Smith of Lake Mills,
Wis.; Josephine M. (Johnson) Suchor of Montrose,
Co.; Frances E. Thurson of Mission Viejo, Calif.;
Genevieve (Mihelic) Tuel of Joliet; and Mary F.
(Krauser) Wolfe of Peoria.
The University of St. Francis in Joliet serves more than 4,300 students nationwide. The university offers more than 60 areas of undergraduate study, including education, arts and sciences, nursing, business and social work. Ten graduate programs are offered in business, nursing, health care and education.