Distinguished Alumni Awards
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS
CATHERINE MCAULEY AWARD FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
The Catherine McAuley Award for Professional Excellence honors alumni and friends of Mercy College of Health Sciences for their lifetime achievements to their professions, their service to their communities, and their efforts on behalf of Mercy College of Health Sciences.
NOMINATION CRITERIA
ELIGIBILITY
Nominees who are alumni must be graduates of Mercy College and have completed their degree at least five (5) years before their nomination. Nominees who are friends must have held an important historical role in the growth or development of an educational program offered by Mercy College or the College as an institution at least five (5) years before their nomination. Alumni nominees should be persons who have made notable contributions to their profession, their community, and Mercy College of Health Sciences. They should exhibit personal and professional integrity. The award may be given posthumously when appropriate.
NOMINATION PROCESS
Each nomination must include the following items:
- A completed nomination form or a letter of nomination explaining fully why the nominee deserves this honor focusing on 1) professional accomplishments, 2) community service, and 3) assistance to and involvement with Mercy College. The letter must include the names, addresses and phone numbers of all the persons making the nomination. Nomination of friends should only focus on volunteer efforts towards the College or its academic programs.
- A formal, biographical sketch (a curriculum vitae, resume or a similar factual statement) about the nominee.
SELECTION PROCESS
Members of the Alumni Association Advisory Committee will serve as the review committee for the award. The selection committee will retain all nominations for further consideration for two (2) years if necessary to develop further supporting materials on nominees.
AWARD CEREMONY
The Catherine McAuley awards will be presented at the commencement exercises held annually each spring.
THE AWARD
The award is a framed copy of a portrait of Mother Mary Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, by artist Cloy Kent.
If you have questions about the award or the process, please contact the Alumni Department at (515) 643-6609 or alumni@mchs.edu.
PAST RECIPIENTS
Listed below are the honorees in order of the year they were recognized. Names in parentheses are maiden names.
| Year | Honoree | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Karen Norris, MS, RT(R) Class of 1978 |
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| 2023 | Tom A. Reitinger, MHA Friend of Mercy College |
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| Jolene Runkel, MSN, ARNP Class of 1979 |
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| 2020 | Rhonda S. Heim, RN, BSN, RNC-LRN, RNC-MNN Class of 1973 |
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| 2019 | Catherine (Spencer) Smith, MSN, ARNP, A/GNP-BC, CWON, CHPN Class of 1976 |
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| 2019 | Julie Younger, CPA, MBA Friend of Mercy College |
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| 2018 | Analissa (Morgan) Kautza, BS, NRP, PM Class of 2013 |
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| 2018 | Jane DeGooyer, EdD, MSN, RN-BC Class of 1981 |
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| 2017 | Michael Bohl, RT(R), MHA Class of 1980 |
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| 2017 | Mary Schemmel, RN, MSN Class of 1976 |
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| 2016 | Shirley Beaver, PhD, RN, NEA-BC |  |
| 2015 | Barb Bybee, RN |  |
| 2014 | Joanne (Hurd) O’Gara, RN Class of 1964 |
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| 2011 | Deborah (Richmond) Willyard, RN, MSN Class of 1979 & 1998 |
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| 2011 | Janice (Sinek) Turcotte RN Class of 1954 |
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| 2010 | Joan McCleish, RN, PhD Class of 1980 |
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| 2009 | Rosemary Holland (Anderson), RN, BA Class of 1956 |
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| 2009 | Mary Carol Cryer (Clark), RN Class of 1964 |
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| 2009 | Debra Shriver (Schiefelbein), RN, MSN Class of 1979 |
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| 2008 | Kathy Olmstead (Pottebaum) RN, BSN, OCN Class of 1981 & 2003 |
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| 2008 | Helen Roberts, PhD Friend of Mercy College |
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| 2008 | Ann Valdez, RN, BSN Class of 1982 |
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| 2007 | Kathy (Dinsmore) Comito, RN, BA, MHA Class of 1964 |
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| 2007 | Sister Mary Rocca, CHM, RN, BA Class of 1975 |
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| 2006 | Barbara (Kent) Allen, RN, BSN, NCSN Class of 1969 |
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| 2006 | Lynne (Trafford) Kinseth, ARNP, MSN, AOCN Class of 1983 |
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| 2006 | Elizabeth (Betty) Hammes, RN, BSN Class of 1951 |
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| 2006 | Joann (Nizzi) Olson, ARNP, CPNP, CNE Class of 1968 |
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| 2005 | Sandra (Detrick) Caligiuri, RN, MS Class of 1963 |
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| 2005 | Joan (Crawford) McMartin, RN Class of 1961 |
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| 2005 | Joanne (Forret) Sassatelli, RN Class of 1951 |
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| 2004 | Linda (Hitchcock) Carey, RN, CHPN Class of 1966 |
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| 2004 | JoAnn (Galezzi) Humphreys, RN, MSN Class of 1968 |
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| 2004 | Patricia (Wright) Jablonski, RN, COHN Class of 1964 |
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| 2004 | Anne (Lane) Roush, RN, BSN, MSW Class of 1951 |
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| 2003 | Katherine (Kleber) Aller, RN, EdD Class of 1970 |
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| 2003 | Judy (Stevenson) Frizzell, RN Class of 1977 |
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| 2003 | Jean (Kirschbaum) King, RN, MSN Class of 1965 |
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| 2003 | Suzanne Mains, RN, MS Class of 1964 |
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| 2002 | Joan Beard, RN, BSN Class of 1981 |
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| 2002 | Louise Brady, RN Class of 1943 |
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| 2002 | Barbara (Holland) Paul, RN Class of 1951 |
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| 2002 | Leona Sweeney, RN Friend of Mercy College |
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| 2001 | Jill (Harry) Coghlan, RN Class of 1976 |
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| 2001 | Joyce Hutchison Carpenter, RN Class of 1961 |
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| 2001 | Inie Johnson, RN Class of 1954 |
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| 2001 | Mildred (Farr) Walker, RN Class of 1934 |
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| 2000 | Mary Ann (Waterhouse) Adams, RN Class of 1975 |
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| 2000 | Ronald F. Caulk, CRNA Class of 1959 |
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| 2000 | Marilyn Russell, RN Class of 1952 |
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| 1999 | Gladys (Bowery) Black, RN Class of 1930 |
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| 1999 | Rose Marie (Vecchi) Cunion, RN Class of 1966 |
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| 1999 | Sr. Mary Zita Brennan, RSM, RN Friend of Mercy College |
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| 1999 | Sr. Mary Sebastian Geneser, RSM, RN Friend of Mercy College |
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