Saint Louis University's president and administrative officers created the Alumni Merit Awards to highlight, with distinction and impact, one of our most exemplary outcomes — our distinguished graduates. This prestigious recognition is awarded in two categories: School and College Alumni Merit Awards, and the Pioneer Award.
Alumni are welcome to nominate their fellow SLU graduates for the awards. Recipients are honored at an annual award ceremony held the week of commencement.
About College and School Alumni Merit Awards
One graduate from each of SLU's 14 colleges, schools and degree-granting centers receives an Alumni Merit Award annually.
Award Criteria
Any living SLU graduate who exemplifies, in their daily life, the mission of Saint Louis University may be nominated for an award. These graduates shall have achieved outstanding success in their:
- Professional life
- Intellectual pursuits
- Community involvement
- Continued interest in and evidence of support of the enhancement of Saint Louis University
Determining a Nominee’s Affiliation
One graduate will be recognized from each college, school and degree-granting center of Saint Louis University. The following process will be used for this designation:
- All nominees will be considered to receive an award from the college, school or 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 center from which they graduated.
- If the nominator is not sure which college, school or 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 by the Alumni Merit Committee.
About the 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.
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
As the first institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River, Saint Louis University was founded and operated to educate pioneers who helped shape the history of our region and nation.
In honor of this enterprising spirit, SLU's Pioneer Award annually recognizes a graduate who is driven, hardworking, innovative and committed to Jesuit ideals, and whose actions and accomplishments have helped pave the way for others.
Award Criteria
Any living or deceased graduate who exemplifies, in their daily life, the mission of Saint Louis University. These graduates shall be:
- Distinguished professionally
- First among peers to achieve something; a trailblazer in their field; paving the way for others
- Committed to service, social justice and the Jesuit ideals
Selection Process
Representatives of the Division of Diversity and Innovative Community Engagement will review nominations. The top candidate will be presented and approved by the president of Saint Louis University.
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