College Awards: Do you know, or are you, a USF alumnus/a with outstanding professional and personal successes and/or involvement in civic, cultural or charitable activities? Consider nominating a worthy alum candidate!
- 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.
Nominations: Click here to access the online nomination form. Anyone can nominate and nominations are due by July 31. Recipients are selected by the Executive Board of the USF Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Distinguished Alumni Awards Highlight: Distinguished Alumni Award winners will be promoted on social media and via a press release. They will also be featured on our website. Check back here for the features!
Questions: Contact the Alumni & Family Relations Office at 877-811-ALUM or alumni@stfrancis.edu.
Current Award Recipients
2019 Presidential Alumni Award
Margaret (Kennedy) Benoit ‘69 (B.A. English)
Retired Educator at Joliet School District 86. She resides in Joliet, IL.
2019 College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Award
Julius Patterson ‘13 (BSW Social Work)
MTSS Behavior Specialist and Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Thorton Township High School. He resides in Harvey, IL.
2019 College of Business and Health Administration Award
Caroline Portlock ’02, ‘04 (B.S. Professional Arts, MBA Business Administration)
Director of Workforce Investment Board of Will County. She resides in Shorewood, IL.
2019 College of Education Alumni Award
Patricia Arias ’08, ‘11 (B.A. Elementary Education, M.S. Teaching & Learning)
Bilingual Teacher at Joliet School District 86. She resides in Joliet, IL.
2019 Leach College of Nursing Alumni Award
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.
Previous Award Recipients
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.
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
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
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 – Suzanne Knoelk ’05, ’10
Reading Specialist at New Lenox School District 122 in New Lenox, Ill.
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
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