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We celebrate alumni who have made significant achievements and contributions to their profession and/or community at the annual Welcome Home Reception and Awards Celebration.

2025 Recipient

Renee Orr

Renee M. Orr, ‘93 is an award-winning behavioral therapist, licensed master social worker, and passionate advocate for children and families across West Michigan. She earned a BA in sociology from Aquinas College before completing her MSW at Grand Valley State University. It was at Aquinas where Renee first embraced the Dominican pillar of service, joining trips to Appalachia and Oaxaca, Mexico. These formative experiences sparked a lifelong commitment to advocacy, ultimately shaping her career as a champion for children.

Renee has spent over 25 years providing therapeutic services to children and families in West Michigan, specializing in childhood trauma, foster care, adoption, and mental health. She is a partner at HRA Psychological Services, where she continues to lead with compassion and clinical expertise. She is trained in trauma-informed modalities including Theraplay and Child-Centered Play Therapy, and is widely recognized for her work with children facing complex emotional and behavioral challenges.

Whether her clients are dealing with divorce, anxiety, grief, attachment difficulties, depression, or sexual abuse, Renee is a trusted and powerful resource. In 2022, she was named West Michigan’s Top Mental Health Professional for Children by Grand Rapids Kids Magazine.

Renee also remains actively connected to Aquinas College, mentoring alumni entering the field of social work.

Renee's impact extends beyond her professional practice. Personally dedicated to the foster and adoptive community, she has fostered dozens of children and is the adoptive mother of four. She lives in West Michigan with her husband Jim, five children, various chickens, and two dogs.

In 2023, Renee was honored as a Michigan Parkinson’s Hero for her advocacy following her own Parkinson’s diagnosis. Earlier this year, she fought back receiving a specialized deep brain stimulation surgery to improve her quality of life. In every facet of her life, Renee embodies compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to healing and hope.

Eligibility

• Only alumni of the College shall be eligible for the award. Recipients should have graduated 10 or more years prior to receiving the award.
• Recipients should display genuine leadership, dedication and service to others; they should exemplify the qualities of a Catholic, liberal arts education. Well-roundedness in aspects of career, family and community service are also considered.
• The selection committee looks for outstanding achievement in at least two of the three areas:
      1. Excellence in academic/professional achievements;
      2. Contribution to community/humanity;
      3. Service to Aquinas College.
• The Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna award shall be presented at the Awards Gala during Homecoming Weekend.

Nominate

Past Recipients

Lyle Morrison ’52
1970 Honoree

Michael Deeb ’57
1971 Honoree

Jerome Byrne ’48
1972 Honoree

Sister Majorie Vangsness, O.P. ’38
1973 Honoree

Edward "Ned" Smith, Sr. ’61
1974 Honoree

Ricahrd Sedlecky ’51
1975 Honoree

Marcia Miller Clapp ’46
1976 Honoree

Robert Muller ’74
1978 Honoree

Lois Case ’50
1979 Honoree

Dr. John Stepanvich ’53
1980 Honoree

Jack Fortner ’59
1981 Honoree

Jacob Robinson ’57
1982 Honoree

Cheri Mann Seamon ’66
1983 Honoree

James Zawacki ’65
1984 Honoree

Jackie Deeb, Ph.D. ’57
1985 Honoree

Mike Cuncannan ’61
1986 Honoree

Gerald Burns ’67
1987 Honoree

Sister Agnes Thiel, O.P. ’61
1988 Honoree

Carol Duba Holm ’61
1989 Honoree

James McKay ’82
1990 Honoree

Patrick Quinn ’58
1991 Honoree

Dr. Vernon Ambrustmacher ’60
1992 Honoree

Debra Bailey ’83
1993 Honoree

Timothy McGuire ’71
1993 Honoree

Ken Neyer ’67
1994 Honoree

Patti (Blaesser) Tibaldi ’73
1995 Honoree

Honorable Dennis Leiber ’69
1996 Honoree

Joseph Hansknecht ’50
Mary Beth Hansknecht ’50 †
1997 Honoree

Sister Rosemary O’Donnell, O.P. ’61
1997 Honoree

Ruth Rasmus Eberhard ’36
1998 Honoree

Greg Alksnis ’71
1999 Honoree

Linda Nemec Foster ’72
Tony Foster, M.D. ’73
2000 Honoree

Timothy McGuire ’71
2001 Honoree

Patricia (Bissonette) Dignan, Ed.D. ’63
2002 Honoree

Mary T. Meistas, M.D. ’71 †
2002 Honoree

Percy L. Brown ’87
2003 Honoree

Rosemary (Hickey) Zant ’58
2004 Honoree

Juan Olivarez ’71, Ph.D.
2005 Honoree

Bridgadier General Jim Bruson ’71
2006 Honoree

Paul Winchester ’75
2007 Honoree

Ed Wagner ’61
2008 Honoree

James L. Farris ’96
2009 Honoree

Jack ’60 and Rita (Hasse ’60) Kirkwood
2010 Honorees

Monique Salinas Stauffer ’78, Ph.D.
2011 Honoree

Bonnie Wesorick ’77
2012 Honoree

Alfred H. Liu. AIA, NCARB ’65
Lisa H. Mitchell ’78
2013 Honorees

Brad D. Smith, M.M. ’91
2014 Honoree

Jacqueline D. Taylor ’80, Ph.D.
2014 Honoree

Robert C. Payne ’67, D.D.S.
2015 Honoree

Christina M. Bivins ’95+
2015 Honoree

N. Patrick Hennessey ’71, M.D.
Ralph E. Mathis ’60, M.D. and Yvonne L. Mathis ’79+
2016 Honorees

Louis ’31 and Florence Hogan Burns
2017 Honorees

The Burns Family
Bill ’63, Larry ’63, Don ’64, Joe ’66, Gerry ’67, Matt ’68, Mary Lou ’70, Julianne ’71, John, Rosalyn ’74, Luann ‘77
2018 Honorees

Matt Coty ’89
2019 Honoree

Dennis Echelbarger ’64
2019 Honoree

Joellyn Cicciarelli ’87
2021 Honoree

Jeanette Pierce '03
2022 Honoree

Amy Marshall '08
2023 Honoree