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.

Alumni at Mercy College graduation

Nominate Individual

Past Recipients

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.

Nominate Individual

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.

Nominate Individual

PAST RECIPIENTS


Listed below are the honorees in order of the year they were recognized. Names in parentheses are maiden names.

Year

Honoree

Photo

2023 Tom A. Reitinger, MHA
Friend of Mercy College
Jolene Runkel, MSN, ARNP
Class of 1979
2020 Rhonda S. Heim, RN, BSN, RNC-LRN, RNC-MNN
Class of 1973
2019 Catherine (Spencer) Smith, MSN, ARNP, A/GNP-BC, CWON, CHPN
Class of 1976
2019 Julie Younger, CPA, MBA
Friend of Mercy College
2018 Analissa (Morgan) Kautza, BS, NRP, PM
Class of 2013
2018 Jane DeGooyer, EdD, MSN, RN-BC
Class of 1981

2017

Michael Bohl, RT(R), MHA
Class of 1980

Michael Bohl

2017

Mary Schemmel, RN, MSN
Class of 1976

Mary Schemmel

2016

Shirley Beaver, PhD, RN, NEA-BC

2015

Barb Bybee, RN

Barb Bybee

2014

Joanne (Hurd) O'Gara, RN
Class of 1964

Joanne O'Gara

2011

Deborah (Richmond) Willyard, RN, MSN
Class of 1979 & 1998

Deborah Willyard

2011

Janice (Sinek) Turcotte RN
Class of 1954

Janice Tourcotte

2010

Joan McCleish, RN, PhD
Class of 1980

Joan McCleish

2009

Rosemary Holland (Anderson), RN, BA
Class of 1956

Rosemary Holland

2009

Mary Carol Cryer (Clark), RN
Class of 1964

Mary Cryer

2009

Debra Shriver (Schiefelbein), RN, MSN
Class of 1979

Deb Shriver

2008

Kathy Olmstead (Pottebaum)
RN, BSN, OCN
Class of 1981 & 2003

2008

Helen Roberts, PhD
Friend of Mercy College

2008

Ann Valdez, RN, BSN
Class of 1982

2007

Kathy (Dinsmore) Comito, RN, BA, MHA
Class of 1964

2007

Sister Mary Rocca, CHM, RN, BA
Class of 1975

2006

Barbara (Kent) Allen, RN, BSN, NCSN
Class of 1969

2006

Lynne (Trafford) Kinseth, ARNP, MSN, AOCN
Class of 1983

2006

Elizabeth (Betty) Hammes, RN, BSN
Class of 1951

2006

Joann (Nizzi) Olson, ARNP, CPNP, CNE
Class of 1968

2005

Sandra (Detrick) Caligiuri, RN, MS
Class of 1963

2005

Joan (Crawford) McMartin, RN
Class of 1961

2005

Joanne (Forret) Sassatelli, RN
Class of 1951

2004

Linda (Hitchcock) Carey, RN, CHPN
Class of 1966

2004

JoAnn (Galezzi) Humphreys, RN, MSN
Class of 1968

2004

Patricia (Wright) Jablonski, RN, COHN
Class of 1964

2004

Anne (Lane) Roush, RN, BSN, MSW
Class of 1951

2003

Katherine (Kleber) Aller, RN, EdD
Class of 1970

2003

Judy (Stevenson) Frizzell, RN
Class of 1977

2003

Jean (Kirschbaum) King, RN, MSN
Class of 1965

2003

Suzanne Mains, RN, MS
Class of 1964

2002

Joan Beard, RN, BSN
Class of 1981

2002

Louise Brady, RN
Class of 1943

2002

Barbara (Holland) Paul, RN
Class of 1951

2002

Leona Sweeney, RN
Friend of Mercy College

2001

Jill (Harry) Coghlan, RN
Class of 1976

2001

Joyce Hutchison Carpenter, RN
Class of 1961

2001

Inie Johnson, RN
Class of 1954

2001

Mildred (Farr) Walker, RN
Class of 1934

2000

Mary Ann (Waterhouse) Adams, RN
Class of 1975

2000

Ronald F. Caulk, CRNA
Class of 1959

2000

Marilyn Russell, RN
Class of 1952

1999

Gladys (Bowery) Black, RN
Class of 1930

1999

Rose Marie (Vecchi) Cunion, RN
Class of 1966

1999

Sr. Mary Zita Brennan, RSM, RN
Friend of Mercy College

1999

Sr. Mary Sebastian Geneser, RSM, RN
Friend of Mercy College

 

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About Us

Mercy College of Health Sciences has been transforming students into healthcare professionals since 1899. Located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, we offer master's degreesbachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, certificate programs, and continuing education courses.

Mercy College is the only private Catholic college in central Iowa and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), in addition to numerous programmatic accreditors.

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