LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellarmine graduates are leaders in their fields, from medicine and technology to civil service and spiritual counseling. This year, the Bellarmine University Alumni Association will honor nine of its most distinguished graduates and a former faculty member. The awards recognize alumni who have distinguished themselves through professional accomplishments, community service or demonstration of attitudes consistent with Christian doctrines.
The university will honor the inductees at an awards dinner Saturday, Sept. 12, 6:15 p.m., in Frazier Hall, which is open to the public. The cost is $40 per person or a discounted rate of $240 per table of eight. Cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m.
The inductees are:
Angela Mason ’80: Alumna of the Year. Mason co-founded ITS Services, which soon established itself as a leading provider of information technology solutions to a variety of federal agencies. When she sold ITS in 2003, it had grown to employ 600 workers and had annual revenue in excess of $70 million. In her “retirement,” Mason said she knew she wanted to do something to advance education because it “had an immense effect on me.” Her generous support has endowed the James and Norma Mason Scholarships, which are awarded to deserving students who otherwise would not have the financial means to attend Bellarmine.
Kathleen Voor Montano’84: Alumna tribute in memoriam. Prior to passing away unexpectedly in 2008 due to complications from pneumonia, Montano served more than a decade as a judge in circuit, district and family court. An attorney for 21 years, she was involved with a variety of community and civic groups and served on the Alumni Board. Her husband, Joe Montano, is an ’84 alumnus of Bellarmine, as well.
Dr. Maggie Miller: Msgr. Alfred F. Horrigan Award. Miller retired two years ago as director of the graduate nursing program after serving Bellarmine for 25 years. She has a multitude of awards, honors and successes. She also is still frequently at Bellarmine volunteering 8-20 hours a week in the campus ministry office, where her counseling efforts are admirable. Students have been known to call her “Lady Maggie” due to her special grace and wisdom.
Maggie Schneider Peak ’00: Scarlet and Silver Society. Peak works in public relations for Brown-Forman and handles PR for Little Black Dress, Bonterra and Five Rivers wines. She also essentially founded The Young Alumni Network at Bellarmine. Peak is a former Alumni Board officer and president, current member of the Bellarmine Board of Overseers, and a tireless worker for Bellarmine since her graduation.
Ray Weis ’66: Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. President and CEO of Dismas Charities, Inc., a nationwide, for-profit, private correctional company, he oversees the operation of halfway houses and correctional facilities throughout the region. Honored by St. X as their Outstanding Alumnus several years ago, Weis is a hallmark of integrity, honesty and compassion.
Sr. Jean Anne Zappa ’72: Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. Outgoing president, or congregation leader, of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, Sr. Jean Anne believes highly in the value of service. She has been active in working for reform through her commitment to political science, sociology, and theology.
Dr. Mark Petrik ’79: Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. A chemistry graduate from Bellarmine, he then graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School, and returned to Louisville in 1989 to practice orthopedic surgery in the prominent firm founded by Dr. Rudy Ellis. Petrik has received many awards and honors and is the son of Bellarmine’s second president, Dr. Eugene Petrik.
Michael Gough ’83: Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. Gough is the senior vice president and CFO of Norton Healthcare. He has helped bring Norton back to profitability and a $67 million turnaround. Michael was formerly with Caritas Health Services.
Dr. Lynn Simon ’02 MBA: Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. Simon is the senior vice president and chief medical officer for Jewish Hospital and St. Mary’s Healthcare and was consistently named by Louisville Magazine as one of the city's “Top Docs” when she was a practicing neurologist.
Doug Strothman ’87: Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. Strothman is the president of DeSales High School in Louisville. He also has remained active at Bellarmine, recently serving a term on the Alumni Board of Directors.
Bellarmine University is an independent Catholic university offering more than 50 majors, as well as graduate degree programs and a doctor of physical therapy. Forbes.com and the Princeton Review rank Bellarmine among America’s best institutions of higher learning, and U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks Bellarmine as a top tier university.
For more information, contact the alumni office at 502-452-8333 or visit:
http://www.bellarmine.edu/alumni.
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