Alumni Achievement Awards Past Winners

The Spirit of Detroit Mercy: Alumni Achievement Award was established to recognize the University’s distinguished graduates, from each of its colleges and schools, who have excelled in their chosen profession, demonstrated outstanding leadership in their work, and benefited the wider community through their support. Award recipients reflect the University’s mission of excellence and service and bring pride to their alma mater.

Previous Winners

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    2022

    2022 spirit award winners

    Craig L. Wilkins ’85
    Associate Professor
    University of Michigan
    Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning
    School of Architecture & Community Design

    Marlena Peleo-Lazar ’72
    Former Chief Creative Officer
    McDonald’s Corporation
    College of Liberal Arts & Education

    Linda Walton Little ’97
    President & CEO
    Neighborhood Service Organization
    College of Health Professions

    Patricia D. Kennedy-Scott ’78
    Regional President (Ret.)
    Kaiser Foundation Health of Ohio
    School of Law

    John C. Donnelly ’78
    Consulting Director
    Donnelly Penman & Partners
    College of Business Administration

    Rose A. Ryntz, Ph.D. ’83
    President
    Ryntz & Associates, LLC
    College of Engineering & Science

    Cheri S. Newman, D.D.S. ’89, ’90, ’98
    Adjunct Professor (Ret.)
    University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
    School of Dentistry

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    2021

     

    Clifford C. Cook ’69, ’70, Senior Vice President (Ret.), Marathon Petroleum Company LLC 
    College of Engineering & Science

    Derk Pronger ’94, Chief Operating Officer, Beaumont Farmington
    College of Health Professions

    Henry G. (Hank) Durkin ’73,Technical Account Manager (Ret.), Microsoft Corp
    College of Liberal Arts & Education

    Joseph Coriaty, ’78, Managing Partner, Frederick Fisher & Partners
    School of Architecture

    Vernon R. (Ven) Johnson ’86, Owner/Founding Member, Johnson Law PLC
    School of Law

    Richard Persiani, D.D.S. M.S.’73, Affiliate Professor, University of Detroit Mercy
    School of Dentistry

    Eric J. Hespenheide ’75, Partner (Ret.) Deloitte & Touche LLP
    College of Business Administration

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    2019

    2019 winners listed below

    Richard Kunnath ’71 —  College of Engineering & Science

    Allan Warnick, D.D.S. ’64  — School of Dentistry

    Kathleen Reehil ’67 — School of Architecture

    Janet Robinson ’69 — College of Health Professions

    Arlyce Seibert ’71  — College of Liberal Arts & Education

    John Lewis, ’74 — College of Business Administration

    Ralph McDowell ’86  — School of Law

     

     

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    2018

     2018 winners group listed in below

    John M. Everly, ’65, ’67 — College of Business Administration
    Randal T. Murphy, ’59 — College of Engineering & Science
    David F. Claeys, ’99, ’03— College of Health Professions
    Thomas E. Page, ’71, ’76 — College of Liberal Arts & Education
    Louis 'Gino' Rossetti, ’59 — School of Architecture
    Mary Sue Stonisch-Monahan, D.D.S., ’87 — School of Dentistry
    The Honorable Gregory E. Mathis, ’88 — School of Law

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    2017

    2017 winners group listed in below

    Michael J. Brenner '67 — College of Business Administration
    Charles E. Lucas, M.D., '59 — College of Engineering & Science
    Mary Maurita Sengelaub, RSM, '49 — College of Health Professions
    John P. Hayes '71 — College of Liberal Arts & Education
    Rainy Hamilton, Jr. '78, '79 — School of Architecture
    Carl E. Misch, D.D.S. '73 — School of Dentistry
    Charles R. Rutherford '53, '57 — School of Law

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    2016

    2016 winners group listed in below

    James H. Timberlake ‘74
    Partner, KieranTimberlake Associates
    Philadelphia, PA
    School of Architecture

    Phyllis E. Peters Look ‘51
    Retired Director of Professional Standards
    Deloitte & Touche
    College of Business Administration

    Meredith R. Phillips ’94, ’97
    Chief Information Privacy & Security Officer
    Henry Ford Health System
    College of Health Professions

    Michael A. Carter Sr. ’72, '78
    Managing Partner
    Pinnacle Construction Partners, LLC
    Nashville, TN
    College of Liberal Arts & Education

    Henry A. Nickol ’55
    Retired Vice President & General Manager for
    Vehicle Operations,North American Operations
    Ford Motor Company
    College of Engineering & Science

    Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr. ‘67
    Legal Counsel and Officer
    Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation
    School of Law

    Richard M. Golden, D.D.S. ‘71
    President & Chief Executive Officer
    Dr. Golden Laser Dental
    School of Dentistry

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    2015

    2015 winners group listed in belowphoto:

    Brian D. Cloyd ’73, ’76
    Vice President, Global Corporate Relations, Steelcase Inc. 
    College of Liberal Arts & Education

    The Honorable Anthony J. Fiorella, Jr. ’61, ’66
    Retired Housing Court Judge, Civil Court, City of New York
    School of Law

    John C. ’79 and Nancy G. ’83 Kennedy
    President and CEO, Autocam Medical
    Quality Analyst, Autocam Corporation
    College of Business Administration

    Jeanette Wrona Klemczak ’65
    Retired Chief Nurse Executive, State of Michigan
    College of Health Professions

    Walter Knysz, Jr., D.D.S. ’75
    Chairman of the Board, UnifiedSmiles
    School of Dentistry

    Dr. Derrick M. Kuzak ’73, ’74, ’76
    Retired Group VP, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company
    College of Engineering & Science

    Steven M. Pagnotta '74, ’76
    President & CEO, Bradford Companies
    School of Architecture

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    2014

    Emil Brolick ’69, ‘72
    President & CEO
    The Wendy’s Company
    College of Business Administration
    (See related Detroit Free Press article)

    John DiBiaggio, DDS, ‘58
    Former President Tufts University, Michigan State University, University of Connecticut
    School of Dentistry

    Philip Kinsella, ‘58
    Partner, KRJDA, LLC Architects
    School of Architecture

    Frederick M. Seibert, ’69, ‘73
    Owner & President
    Preece, Inc.
    College of Liberal Arts & Education

    Nancy Susick, MSN, RN, ‘86
    Senior Vice President, Beaumont Health System
    President, Beaumont Hospital, Troy
    College of Health Professions

    William C. Young, ‘64
    President, Absopure Water Co.
    Chairman/CEO, Plastipak Holdings,
    Chairman, Clean Tech, Inc.
    College of Engineering & Science

    Brian Zahra, ‘87
    Justice, Michigan Supreme Court
    Michigan Hall of Justice
    School of Law

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    2005-2010

    Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award

    2005 Jim Padilla, '69, '70
    2006 John '79 and Nancy '83 Kennedy
    2007 Elmore Leonard '50
    2008 Emil Brolick '69, '72
    2009 Charlie Rutherford '53, '57
    2010 Maureen A. Fay, OP, Ph.D. '6

    The Founders Award​

    2005 Tom Angott '49
    2006 Bill Young '64
    2007 Tom Denomme '61
    2008 Dick Kughn
    2009 John Lobbia '64
    2010 Warren Loranger