Saint Louis University Alumni Merit Awards
Saint Louis University's president and administrative officers created our alumni merit awards to highlight, with distinction and impact, one of SLU's most exemplary outcomes — our distinguished graduates. These prestigious recognitions are given annually in two categories: an Alumni Merit Award from a SLU college, school or degree-granting center, and the Pioneer Award, open to any graduate.
This year's recipients will be honored with their awards during SLU's Commencement Recognition Dinner on May 16, 2025, and verbally recognized during the University's commencement ceremony on May 17, 2025.
About Alumni Merit Awards
Each of SLU's colleges, schools and degree-granting centers can grant an Alumni Merit Award annually. These distinguished graduates are honored for their outstanding achievements, dedication to their chosen profession and commitment to SLU's mission.
Alumni Merit Award Criteria
Any living SLU graduate who exemplifies SLU's mission in their daily life may be nominated for an Alumni Merit Award. These graduates should have demonstrated outstanding success in their:
- Professional life
- Intellectual pursuits
- Community involvement
Nominees should also display continued interest in and evidence of support for Saint Louis University's enhancement.
- Nominees will be considered to receive an award from the college, school or degree-granting center where the Saint Louis University degree they received is currently housed.
- If an individual has multiple degrees from Saint Louis University, they will be placed in the pools for each college, school or degree-granting center from which they graduated.
- If the nominator is not sure which college, school or degree-granting center is appropriate, the Office of Alumni Engagement will make a determination once the nomination is received to ensure that each candidate is in the correct pool before being reviewed.
Alumni Merit Award Selection Process
A committee of staff members and alumni volunteers will review nominations, with a final review from the dean of each college, school or degree-granting center. After the recipients have been selected, the Office of Alumni Engagement will compile information about the recipients for review by the Office of the President.
Alumni Merit Award Nominations
The 2025 nomination period is now open. Submissions must be received by midnight on Jan. 17, 2025. Nominees not selected from the last two cycles will be considered again this year. To check on the status of a previous nomination or make updates, contact alumnimerit@slu.edu.
Past Alumni Merit Award Recipients
College of Arts and Sciences
Tim Drone, M.A., MBA (A&S ’72, GRAD A&S ’75, GRAD CSB ’77)
School of Medicine
Toniya Singh, M.D. (MED, Residency ’00, Fellowship ’03)
School of Law
Joe Conran, J.D. (A&S ’67, LAW ’70)
College of Philosophy and Letters
Michael Esswein, M.Div. (P&L ’93)
Center for Advanced Dental Education
Michael Ernest, D.D.S. (DENT ’69)
Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Jim Kavanaugh (CSB ’86)
Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology/School of Science and Engineering
Frank Magiera, Ph.D. (PC ’62)
Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing
Trudy Busch Valentine, M.A. (VSN ’80)
School of Social Work
Marilyn Horst, M.S.W. (GRAD SSW ’77, GRAD PH ’99)
Doisy College of Health Sciences
Barbara Jacobsmeyer, M.A. (DCHS ’88)
College for Public Health and Social Justice
Laura S. Kaiser, MBA, M.H.A., F.A.C.H.E. (GRAD PH ’82, ’85)
School for Professional Studies
Nate Merrick, M.A. (GRAD PS ’20)
School of Education
Flint Fowler, Ph.D. (GRAD ED ’97)
College of Arts and Sciences
Helene Ballmann Dudley (A&S ’68)
School of Medicine
Raymond G. Slavin, M.D. (MED ’56)
School of Law
Dean Plocher, J.D. (LAW ’97)
College of Philosophy and Letters
Mark A. Lewis, S.J. (GRAD P&L ’84, GRAD A&S ’84)
Center for Advanced Dental Education
Terrance A. Rust, D.D.S. (DENT ’67)
Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Alan Vogt (CSB ’69)
Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
Sally Pavlow Johnson (PC ’96)
Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing
Judith H. Carlson (VSN ’72, ’96)
School of Social Work
LaTonia Collins Smith, Ed.D. (GRAD SW '98, GRAD PH ’99)
Doisy College of Health Sciences
William Giese, PA-C (A&S ’69, DCHS ’73)
College for Public Health and Social Justice
Nicholas Collins, M.P.H., B.S.N. (VSN ’11, GRAD PH ’14)
School for Professional Studies
Eric M. Bailey (GRAD PS ’16)
School of Education
H. Eric Clark, Ed.D. (GRAD ED '99, '14)
College of Arts and Sciences
Isiaah Crawford, Ph.D. (A&S ’82)
School of Medicine
Thomas P. Shaner, M.D. (A&S ’68, MED ’72)
School of Law
Stephen M. Strum, J.D. (LAW ’88)
College of Philosophy and Letters
Thomas J. Reese, S.J. (P&L, GRAD A&S ’68)
Center for Advanced Dental Education
Suthanya Srisuro, D.D.S., M.S. (GRAD DENT ’75)
Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Jerry Sax (CSB ’83)
Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
William L. Carrier (PC ’81)
Institute of Technology
Thomas B. Nenninger (IT ’61)
Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing
Mary Kay Knight Macheca, M.S.N., R.N. (VSN ’82, GRAD VSN ’86)
Doisy College of Health Sciences
Jennifer L. McDaniel M.S., R.D.N. (DCHS ’05)
School for Professional Studies
Dennis M. Jenkerson (PS ’02)
School of Education
Alice F. Roach, Ed.D. (ED ’04, GRAD ED ’06)
College of Arts and Sciences
William M. Klepper, Ph.D. (A&S ’66, GRAD A&S ’67, ’75)
School of Medicine
Jerome V. Dwyer, M.D. (A&S ’79, MED ’85)
Center for Advanced Dental Education
William Ka-Lun Choi (CADE ’93)
Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Robert V. Vitale (CSB ’88)
Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
George Brill (PC ’85)
Institute of Technology
Michael C. Forrest (IT ’55)
Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing
Pamela Z. Cacchione, Ph.D. (GRAD VSN ’98)
Doisy College of Health Sciences
Colleen Kelly Starkloff (DCHS ’74)
College for Public Health and Social Justice
Brent Ibata, Ph.D., J.D. (PH ’00 and ’08, LAW ’07)
School for Professional Studies
Claire L. Wyneken (PS ’15)
School of Education
Don W. Cook Sr., Ph.D. (ED ’97)
College of Arts and Sciences,
Darryl Jones ('77)
School of Medicine
Bruce Wolfe ('67)
School of Law
Jason Sengheiser ('03)
Center for Advanced Dental Education
Patrick Dreiling ('70)
Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Valerie Davisson ('87)
Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
Jose Lopez ('69)
Institute of Technology
Rudolph Roeslein ('71)
School of Nursing
Sheila Haas ('68)
Doisy College of Health Sciences
Vasilikitsa Antonopoulos ('02)
College for Public Health and Social Justice
Miguel Paniagua ('92)
School for Professional Studies
Keith Willis, Sr. ('02)
School of Education
Robert Flannery ('79)
College of Arts and Sciences
Thomas Downey ('86)
School of Medicine
William Sly ('57)
Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Thomas Hillmeyer ('64)
Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
Patrick Lee ('59)
Institute of Technology
J. Barry McCormick ('62, '67)
School of Nursing
Linda Heitman ('87, '01)
Doisy College of Health Sciences
Michael Riley ('75)
College for Public Health and Social Justice
J. Breezer Rickey ('92)
School for Professional Studies
Frank Friedlein Jr. ('76)
School of Education
Margaret Vandeven ('14)
College of Arts and Sciences
John P. Coyne ('59)
School of Medicine
Peter J. Dempsey ('66)
Center for Advanced Dental Education
Aron E. Dellinger ('99)
Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Mark R. Bell (’67)
Parks College of Engineering, Aviation, and Technology
Lara A. Lennaman ('03)
Institute of Technology
Joseph F. Steurer (’59)
School of Nursing
Anne G. Perry ('76)
Doisy College of Health Sciences
Susan A. Klepper ('66)
College for Public Health and Social Justice
Larry C. Chang ('89)
School for Professional Studies
William J. Dowling ('83)
School of Education
Mary A. Bruemmer ('60)
Saint Louis University Pioneer Award
Referencing the pioneering spirit that helped forge Saint Louis University's foundation, the Pioneer Award is an annual recognition of a hardworking, innovative, driven graduate who is committed to Jesuit ideals and has distinguished themselves in their life’s pursuits. Most importantly, the Saint Louis University Pioneer Award is given to a graduate whose actions, accomplishments and pioneering spirit have helped pave the way for others.
Pioneer Award Criteria
Any living or deceased graduate who exemplifies SLU's mission in their daily life is eligible for the Pioneer Award. Nominees should be:
- Distinguished professionally
- The first among their peers to achieve something, a trailblazer in their field, someone who paved the way for others
- Committed to service, social justice and the Jesuit ideals
Pioneer Award Selection Process
Representatives of SLU's Division of Diversity and Innovative Community Engagement will review nominations. The top candidate will be presented to and approved by the president of Saint Louis University.
Pioneer Award Nominations
The 2025 nomination period is now open. Submissions must be received by midnight on Jan. 31, 2025. Nominees not selected from the last two cycles will be considered again this year. To check on the status of a previous nomination or make updates, contact alumnimerit@slu.edu.
Past Pioneer Award Recipients
Gregory Frey
School of Education, Class of 2007
Steven Frey
School of Education, Class of 2009
William L. Clay, Sr.
College of Arts and Sciences, Class of 1953
Cecilia A. Nadal, M.A.
College of Arts and Sciences, Class of 1972
Dr. Lubna H. Somjee,
College of Arts and Sciences, Class of 1993
Dr. Stanley L. Anderson
College of Arts and Sciences, Class of 1991
College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School, Class of 1996
School of Medicine, Class of 2001
- 2011: Patricia L. Monteleone, M.D.,
School of Medicine, Class of 1961 - 2007: Harry Revels III, M.D.
School of Medicine, Class of 1956 - 2002: Mary Nawrocki McGinnis, M.D.
School of Medicine, Class of 1952
FAQ Before Starting a Nomination
Anyone can recommend a SLU graduate for an Alumni Merit Award or Pioneer Award.
Please be prepared to provide information on the nominee’s achievements and qualifications in the following categories:
Alumni Merit Award Nomination
- Professional accomplishments
- Intellectual pursuits
- Awards, honors and recognitions
- Community service
- Commitment to the Jesuit mission
- Continued support of Saint Louis University
Pioneer Award Nomination
- Professional accomplishments
- Intellectual pursuits
- Awards, honors and recognition
- First among peers/paving the way for others
- Commitment to diversity and inclusion
- Community service
- Commitment to the Jesuit ideals of social justice
- Continued Support of Saint Louis University
In addition to text-based questions about the nominee’s achievements and qualifications, the form will also ask you to upload a CV or resume and any available letters of recommendation. Please have these ready when you begin the nomination as there is no way to exit and return to the form after you have already started.
Please fill out each section of the nomination form as thoroughly as possible. The strength of your nomination depends on the information and supporting materials you provide to best represent the accomplishments of your nominee. Referencing a separate cover letter or CV is not an acceptable answer for a section. If you do not complete a section, it will impact the nominee’s score.
Keep in mind that reviewers may not be familiar with industry-specific language or awards, so the more information you can provide about why an accomplishment or accolade is significant, the stronger the nomination will be.
If you are not sure what to include in a nomination, review your nominee’s LinkedIn profile, request their resume or CV, or talk to family, friends or the nominee themselves to learn additional details.