CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS RECIPIENTS!
Lovella Kelley '91 — Beata Netemeyer Award
Christine Ostroski ’86 — St. Maria De Mattias Award
Lisa Garcia '08 — Spirit of Acuto Award
Richard Macías '80 — Leon A. McNeill Award
Newman University created the annual Alumni Awards to honor alumni who are striving to make a difference in their communities and beyond and living out the university's mission of transforming society.
St. Maria De Mattias Award
The award, named for the foundress of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, honors alumni who display a deep loyalty to Newman University and its mission. The award recipient has given meritorious and continuous support and stewardship to Newman University and Catholic life.
Previous Recipients:
Mildred Scott '39 - 1984
M. Delores Strunk*, ASC '39 - 1986
Laurie Champ Bell '49 - 1987
Eugene A. Crockett '79 - 1989
Helenruth Welsby '45 - 1989
Rita Stoll '41 - 1990
Bridget White '64 - 1991
Terry '68 and Gretchen '69 Keller - 1992
Shirley Rueb '70 - 1993
Thomasine Stoecklein, ASC '47 - 1994
Ms. Jeanne Cardenas '58 - 1995
Louis J. Campisani '70 - 1996
J. V. '82 and Veronica '82 Johnston - 1997
Doris Wells, A '52 - 1998
Diane Orth-Baalmann, M. D. '78 - 1999
Karla Short '92 - 2000
Dana '80 and Larry Fugate - 2001
Colleen Gillen '66, '70 - 2002
Edward '70, '99 and Catherine '72 Burns - 2003
Loretta Gegen, ASC '48 - 2004
Larry Carney - 2005
Greg Biltz '68 - 2008
Catherine Petersen Brady '44 - 2009
James Macias, Ph.D. '81 - 2010
Margaret Knoeber, ASC '49, '53, '61 - 2011
Dorothy Vossen Adams '37 - 2012
Mary Green Shults '37 - 2012 Mary Agnes Brady Morley '37 - 2012
J.T. Klaus '87 - 2013
Sheila May Maksimowicz ’77 - 2014
Mark ’78 and Ann (Roder) Fox ’81, ‘01 - 2015
Melissa Grelinger '82 - 2016
Gerry Killeen ‘69 - 2017
Liana M. (Albers) Torkelson ‘70 - 2018
Renee Hein ‘02 - 2019
Danny Krug '90 - 2020/21
Mary Carter '02 - 2022
Christine Ostroski '86 - 2023
Beata Netemeyer Service Award
Beata Netemeyer served as the provincial of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for the former Wichita province from its formation in 1929 until 1938. She was instrumental in establishing Sacred Heart Junior College, now Newman University. A strong supporter of higher education for her own sisters, Beata Netemeyer was pleased to offer ownership and general management for the college in collaboration with the Diocesan School Office. She was a strong leader with vision who was willing to attempt the difficult for the welfare of her sisters and their ministries. This award honors alumni who continue her spirit of service as they minister with others bringing about the mission of Christ.
Previous Recipients:
Charlotte Rohrbach, ASC '62 1996
Helen Streck*, ASC '37 1997
Isabel DeCarme Mora '86 1998
Larry Dostert '73 1999
Maureen Farrar, ASC '63 2000
Mary Schoenecker, ASC A'48, '60 2001
Lillian Taylor '59 2002
Margarita LaFarelle Hunt '90 2003
Stella Rosenhamer, ASC A'39,'82 2004
Gene Cannata, M.D. '76 2005
J. Michael '80 and Susan Carney Pool '80 2006
Gino Salerno '88 2008
Morris A. Hund, M.D. '80 2009
Betty Weninger Hund, R.N. '79 2009
Elaine (Doll/Aaron) Hemmen '51 2010
John R. Pyles, M.D. '76 2012
Father Ned Blick '86 2013
Janice Friess ASC ’63 2014
Sister Teresita Elna S. Oporta, FSpif, MSW ‘07 2015
Richard Klinge, J.D. '71 2016
Lois ‘74 and George ‘72 Kreidler 2017
Clinton Stucky ‘95 2018
Curtis Nightingale ‘01 2019
Bob '82 and Nancy Diepenbrock 2020/21
Luke Barnwell '13 2023
Leon A. McNeill Achievement Award
The Leon A. McNeill Achievement Award honors graduates who have achieved outstanding success in their personal lives and careers. They have enriched the church spiritually, made contributions to society, and demonstrated concern for other. The award is named for the first president of Sacred Heart Junior College, now Newman University.
Previous Recipients:
Elma Broadfoot '65 1984
Joseph Rota*, M.D. '69 1986
Mary Ann Peters '70 1987
Theresa Neises '48 1988
J. Michael Keller '70 1989
Gwen Shunatona '65 1989
Mark Troilo '74 1990
Tom Dondlinger '72 1991
Greg Biltz '69 1992
Gerry Killeen '69 1993
Larry Hund, M.D. '74 1994
John Carney '75 1995
Rick Nuckolls '75 1996
Rosemary Dugan '62 1997
Michael G. Ludlow, M.D. '78 1998
Surendra Singh, Ph.D., HON 1999
Mark Ricken '72 2000
Wanda Farmer '48 2001
James Schwarzenberger '72 2002
Diana Crook, M.D. '85 2003
Patrick Wolf, M.D. '74 2004
Archie Macias '74 2005
Rebecca Martin '79 2006
Mary Flaherty Kirkbride '65 2006
Catherine Mohr, M.D. '78 and Willam Powers '78 2006
Terry Corbett '88 2008
Shelly (Klaus) Steadman '95 2008
Stacey Beck Marmolejo '82 Communications 2009
Matt Seimear, Ph.D. '02 2010
William (Tony) Schountz, Ph.D. '86 2011
Dennis A. Newell '77 2011
Clare Sander Vanderpool '87 2012
Gregory Cole '95 2013
Thomas Malone ’76 2014
Reverend Thomas A. Welk, CPPS 2015
Robert Martin, M.D. '83 2016
Lanny Gridley ‘07 2017
Sharai McConico ‘72 2018
Alicia Thompson ‘97 2019
Mike Wescott '82 2020/21
Catherine Mardon '07 2023
Spirit of Acuto Award
The Spirit of Acuto Award is named in honor of the driving spirit of Adorers of the Blood of Christ. The conviction, "The charity of Christ urges us," led not only the ASC sisters but also the laity associated with them to respond to the needs of others. This award honors alumni and friends who, as a reflection of their association with Newman University, have been a driving force, using their talent and training at critical junctures to move a vision to reality.
Previous Recipients:
Tarcisia Roths, ASC '48, '54 2006
Jeanne (Roth) '69 and Daniel Malone '68 2008
Drew Bogner, Ph.D. '79 2009
Kevin Suzette Ruegg '94 2010
Don Bittner, M.D. '77 2011
Ami Angell, Ph.D. '99 2012
Mark Potter '86 2013
Beverly Moritz Greenwood ’63 2014
Margaret Weilert ’61, ‘65 2015
Teresa Lovelady MSW '10 2016
Ginny Wylie ‘93 2017
Jay Holmes ‘89 2018
Jacob Wayman ‘17 2019
Nina Shaw-Woody '13 2020/21
Sarah Forster '12 2023