June 6, 2022

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MILWAUKEE — Marquette University’s Alumni National Awards honor distinguished alumni, parents and friends who embody Marquette’s mission through their character, personal and professional achievements, and their impact on the community and others.

Award recipients include individuals from each of the university’s colleges and professional schools. They embody Marquette’s spirit and mission in searching for truth, discovering and sharing knowledge, fostering excellence, promoting faith, and developing leadership through serving others.

Short profiles of the honorees are available on Marquette’s Alumni National Awards webpage.

ALL-UNIVERSITY AWARD RECIPIENTS

Alumna of the Year Award

Margaret Nye Troy

Milwaukee, Wis.

Peggy Troy, CEO of Children’s Wisconsin, learned to see the cura personalis (the Jesuit tenet of “care for the whole person”) in each patient as a child making house calls with her father, a family doctor in a small Illinois town. She adopted this value of knowing each patient beyond their medical needs and reinforced it during her years at Marquette and has carried it throughout her career.

Service Award

Cynthia J. Ellis and Maurice H. Ellis

South Holland, Ill.

Maurice “Bo” Ellis has always loomed large on Marquette’s campus. The 6’9” forward served as captain of the 1977 NCAA championship basketball team under legendary coach Al McGuire. Bo and his wife, Candy, have long exhibited leadership and service off the court, too, speaking often about the importance of helping others and “paying it forward.”

Spirit of Marquette Award (achievement before age 40)

Catherine Spaulding Wessel and Matthew R. Wessel

Milwaukee, Wis.

In the true Marquette spirit, Katie and Matt Wessel are committed to making a difference in the lives of others — with the help of authentic German-style pretzels. The couple launched Milwaukee Pretzel Company in 2013 after living and working for a year in Munich, Germany, and the business gives them daily opportunities to live out their faith and the Marquette mission.

Friend of the University Award

Richard S. Strong

Brookfield, Wis.

Dick Strong grew up guided by mentors after losing both parents at a young age. First, by his Uncle Robert, then came coaches, and later, by his professors. These invaluable relationships helped form Dick into the person he is today — a visionary leader who honors his mentors of yesterday by giving back today.

COLLEGE, SCHOOL AND GROUP AWARD RECIPIENTS

The names of the alumni who will be honored are below. Visit the Marquette University Alumni National Awards webpage for additional informational on each award winner.

Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences

Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award — Hon. Vivian Torres

Achievement Award — Jacquelyne Lane Grimshaw

Young Alumnus of the Year Award — Neal R. Lofy

Association of Marquette University Women

Mary Neville Bielefeld Award — Margaret Mathews Sankovitz

Ignatian Leadership Award — Caroline Peacock (nursing student)

Nora Finnigan Werra Faculty Achievement Award — Dr. Michelle Mynlieff

College of Business Administration

Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award — Archie C. Black

Entrepreneurial Award — Perry J. Vieth

Service Award — Deborah Rubbelke O’Halloran

Young Alumna of the Year Award — Elena M. Braun

1. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication

Communicator of the Year Award — John E. Salak

Byline Award — Michael Huang

Professional Achievement Award — Cheryl A. Pawelski

Service Award — Brig. Gen. Lorna Chance Mahlock

Young Alumna of the Year Award — Jennifer N. Lada

School of Dentistry

Distinguished Alumnus in Dentistry Award — Timothy R. Kinzel, D.D.S.

Outstanding Dental Service Award — Gary A. Hendricks, D.D.S.

Young Alumna of the Year Award — Zazell Staheli Cummings, D.D.S.

College of Education

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Achievement Award — Dr. Matthew J. Krug

Educational Policy and Leadership Achievement Award — Laura E. Gutierrez

Young Alumna of the Year Award — Amanda Lloyd Burns

Opus College of Engineering

Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award — Brian J. Truskowski

Professional Achievement Award — Dr. Michael X. Yang

Entrepreneurial Award — Victor B. Szczerba

Young Alumna of the Year Award — Gretchen Noth Borden

College of Health Sciences

Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award — Dr. Jo Anne Zujewski

Professional Achievement Award — Dr. Nunzio A. Gaglianello

Young Alumna of the Year Award — Dr. Holly Caretta-Weyer

Department of Intercollegiate Athletics

Lifetime Achievement Award — James B. Chones

Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award — Joseph L. Lee

Young Alumnus of the Year Award — Nathaniel H. Colson

M Club Hy Popuch Memorial Service Award — Barbara Gombar Andrie and Stanley J. Andrie

Friends of Marquette Athletics Award — Sheila C. Frisinger and Kevin L. Frisinger

Robert L. and William P. McCahill Award — Joseph T. Keys

Law School

Alumna of the Year Award — Christine Wilde Woleske

Lifetime Achievement Award — Michael J. Gonring

Howard B. Eisenberg Service Award    — Rebeca M. López

Charles W. Mentkowski Sports Law Alumnus of the Year Award — Andy J. Shiffman

Les Aspin Center for Government

Public Service Award — Dr. Arnold L. Mitchem

Marquette University Alumni Association Board of Directors

Pedro Arrupe Award — Laice A. Perry

College of Nursing

Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award — Julia Lehr Creamer

Professional Achievement Award — Dr. Josie L. Veal

Service Award — Mary Isom Nolte

Young Alumna of the Year Award — Kathleen M. Blaney

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About Kevin Conway

Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of University Relations. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.