Alumni Honored at Lewis Homecoming

Editor's note: The following is a release issued by Lewis University.

presented awards to eight alumni on Saturday, Sept. 24, as part of the Homecoming and Family Day Celebration. At a special Alumni Achievement Awards Dinner, Cherilyn Murer of Homer Glen was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award, and seven other Lewis alumni received awards for achievement within their fields. 

Brother James Gaffney, FSC, Lewis University president, presented the awards during an elegant dinner in the University Dining Room attended by family and friends of the honorees.

 The honorees are as follows:

Cherilyn Murer ’75 – Distinguished Alumni Award

Cherilyn Murer completed her bachelor of arts degree in criminal social justice with honors from Lewis University in 1975, and also served as director of community development and coordinator of community arts development for Lewis.  She went on to earn a juris doctorate, with honors, from Northern Illinois University (NIU) in 1978, a finance certificate from Harvard University, a marketing certificate from Stanford University and was designated a certified rehabilitation administrator. In 1985, she founded Murer Consultants, Inc. to provide legal-based healthcare management consulting and is president and CEO of the nationally recognized firm, providing guidance for national and international commissions and presidential task forces. Murer serves as clinical assistant professor of law at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Chicago, has authored more than 160 scholarly articles and is co-author of six books on healthcare management. She was appointed by the governor of Illinois to the NIU Board of Trustees in 2005, and served as chair from 2008-09. She is a founding member and current chair of the Northern Illinois Proton Treatment and Research Center and a member of the prestigious NIU College of Law Board of Visitors. 

Jaime Garcia ’73 – Achievement in the Field of Sports Management

Jaime Garcia of Sarasota, Florida, graduated with a degree in Spanish in 1973 from Lewis University and master’s degree in Spanish education from Indiana State University in 1977. As a student at Lewis, he was a member of Phi Kappa Theta and the mens baseball team, playing under the legendary coach Gordie Gillespie. He went on to become an extraordinarily successful coach himself, guiding teams from Providence Catholic High School to state championships, and  earning hall of fame distinction from both Lewis University and Providence Catholic. Garcia is currently the pitching coordinator for the Houston Astros minor league system.

Karen Hackett ’87- Achievement in the Field of Business

Karen Hackett of Chicago received her master’s degree in business administration from Lewis University in 1987. Hackett has more than 20 years of experience in association management, and currently is the CEO of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and was previously the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American College of Healthcare Executives. In 2009, she was awarded the Association Forum’s Samuel B. Shapiro Award for CEO Achievement.

Lydia Kellogg ’99- Achievement in the Field of Aviation

Lydia Kellogg of Arlington, Virginia, earned a bachelor of arts degree in aviation administration, and was an active student as a member of Koinonia, Alpha Eta Rho-Lambda Rho Chapter, Women in Aviation, and the Lewis University Flight Team. Her career in aviation administration began with airport consultancy Landrum & Brown, working on the O’Hare Modernization Project. Since 2007, Kellogg has worked for Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), an organization representing local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. She currently holds the role as director of public safety and security.

John Kilpatrick ’92, ’08- Achievement in the Field of Radio/TV Broadcasting

John Kilpatrick of Oswego, earned a bachelor of arts degree in radio/TV broadcasting in 1992 and a master’s degree in graduate information security in 2008. While at Lewis, he was active in many student organizations and worked as a director of Student Activities, beginning the first video store at Lewis University. After graduation he worked as an editor for MPI Home Video before returning to work for Lewis in 1994, where he is the director of television operations and has grown the Lewis television program substantially. He was also employed at Harpo Studios for 14 years as an editor for the Oprah Winfrey Show, and has been nominated for Emmy awards in multiple camera editing on nine occasions, winning the Emmy three times.

Rev. John Merkelis, O.S.A., ’96 - Achievement in the Field of Education

Father John Merkelis of New Lenox is a lifelong learner, earning a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Villanova University (cum laude) in 1978, a divinity degree from Catholic Theological Union in 1984, a graduate degree in religious studies from St. Louis University in 1991 and a master of arts degree in education administration from Lewis University in 1996.  He is currently the pastoral director for Providence Catholic High School where he has served in various roles since 1988 including principal, guidance counselor and Kairos spiritual director.

Eileen Mizwicki ’09- Young Alumni Award

Eileen Mizwicki of Chicago graduated from Lewis University in 2009 with a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education/special education, receiving the De La Salle Medallion for Exemplary Volunteer Service. While a student at Lewis, she participated in nearly all volunteering events and was instrumental in the development of STAND (Students who stand for social justice). Mizwicki has worked for Chicago Public Schools and is completing a yearlong teaching assignment in Honduras for the Olancho Aid Foundation, Inc.

Dr. Charles Slack ’68- Achievement in the Field of Healthcare

Dr. Charles Slack, of Chicago graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology in 1968 and earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, graduating in 1972 and began his medical career with an internship at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center. He completed a postgraduate residency in orthopedic surgery at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, serving as chief resident his last year, and also completed a fellowship at Rush University Medical Center in Spinal Surgery, including care of spinal trauma, congenital and developmental spinal disorders. Dr. Slack has been a board certified orthopedic surgeon since 1979, and is currently the owner of Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, a large group practice of orthopedic surgeons with multiple locations throughout the Chicagoland area.