Heritage Week Convocation Honorees

Held to coincide with the Feast day of St. Vincent de Paul on September 27, Vincentian Heritage Week is a Niagara University tradition that educates and celebrates all that makes our university Vincentian. During this week we often hold our annual opening Mass or a special Mass celebrating St. Vincent de Paul for the entire university community. We also offer a variety of ways to integrate education, advocacy, and service with impoverished and marginalized populations throughout the week.

Vincentian Heritage, Convocation 2023, Honorees

  • Perboyre Medal: Caroline Lebron, Master of Sciences in Criminal Justice Administration, Niagara University
  • St. Louise de Marillac Award: Esmeralda Sierra, President of Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY and Board of Trustees for Catholic Charities of Buffalo
  • Frederic Ozanam Medal: John Belcastro, Principal for Alternative and Continuing Education Niagara Catholic District School Board
  • Vincentian Mission Award: Stefanie Wichhart, Ph.D.,Professor of History, College of Arts and Sciences, Niagara University
  • Honorary Doctoral Degree of Pedagogy: Reverend Gilbert Walker, C.M., Coordinator of the Vincentian Popular Mission Team and Provincial Council for Western Province of the Congregation of the Mission

Vincentian Heritage, Convocation 2022, Honorees

  • Caritas Medal: John Sauter, Ph.D., assistant dean for academic affairs, College of Arts and Sciences, Niagara University
  • St. Louise de Marillac Award: Tracia McKissic, director of teacher education field experience, College of Education, Niagara University
  • Frederic Ozanam Medal: Theresa Schmidt, ’14, program director, Heart, Love and Soul
  • Vincentian Mission Award: Carol Doyle-Jones, Ph.D., associate professor and academic chair, Ontario Educational Studies, Niagara University
  • Honorary Doctoral Degree of Humane Letters: Denise Góñez-Santos, Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network West/school improvement specialist, Erie 1 BOCES 

Vincentian Heritage Convocation 2021, Honorees

  • Caritas Medal: Eddie Burnett, Vincentian Residence Porter, UG2 Facilities Services
  • St. Louise de Marillac Award: Adrienne Kasbaum, Director of Nursing Services, Niagara County Health Department
  • Perboyre Medal: Rev. Bernard Tracey, C.M., Executive Vice President for Mission, St. John's University
  • Rev. Thomas Augustine Judge, C.M. Award: Lauren Paul, Director of Operations, Cornell University Women's Lacrosse
  • The Vincentian Mission Awards: Jennifer Beebe, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Education and Dana Radatz, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Niagara University

Vincentian Heritage Convocation 2020, Honorees

  • Honorary Degree - Doctor of Laws: Heather C. McGhee, President Emeritus, Demos
  • Rev. Thomas Augustine Judge, C.M. Award: Andrè K. Ware, Niagara University Class of 2016
  • Vincentian Mission Award: Daniel S. McMann, University Planner, Niagara University
  • Ozanam Medal: Mark A. Gallo, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Niagara University
  • St. Vincent de Paul Medal: Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Buffalo, New York

Vincentian Heritage Convocation 2019, Honorees

  • Honorary Degree - Doctor of Humane Letters: Sr. Betty Ann McNeil, D.C., M.S.W., Vincentian Scholar-in-Residence at DePaul University
  • Rev. Thomas Augustine Judge, C.M. Award: Alexis Fuentes, Director of Missions, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Boonton, NJ; Speaking Consultant, The Big Talk Academy NYC
  • Vincentian Mission Award: Shawn P. Daly, Ph.D., P.E., Professor of Marketing, Niagara University
  • Ozanam Medal: Christopher R. Rhue  B.S. '18, Incoming Tax Associate at The Bonadio Group
  • St. Louise de Marillac Award: Patricia Wrobel , Executive Director, Levesque Institute for Civic Engagement , Niagara University
  • St. Vincent de Paul Medal: David V. Whalen, Project Director, First Responder Disability Awareness Training, Niagara University

Download the Vincentian Heritage Week schedule here

Vincentian Heritage Convocation 2018, Honorees

  • Honorary Degree – Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.): Sister Nora Gatto, D.C., Campus Minister for Retreats and Faith Formation, St. John’s University
  • Vincentian Mission Award: David B. Taylor, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Niagara University
  • St. Vincent de Paul Medal: Kenneth Sass, LCSW-R, President & CEO, Family & Children’s Services of Niagara
  • St. John-Gabriel Perboyre Award: Rev. Elmer Bauer, C.M. ’87, Provincial Treasurer of the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission, Philadelphia, PA
  • St. Louise de Marillac Award for Outstanding Service: Yasmine Cajuste, Project Development Manager for the FAMVIN Homeless Alliance, Worldwide Vincentian Family
  • Ozanam Medal: Amelia Gallagher, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Niagara University

Keynote Speaker: Very Rev. Stephen Grozio, C.M. ’75, Provincial Superior, Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission, USA

Special Convocation and Awarding of Academic Honors, September 25, 2018

  • Honorary Degree – Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.): Very Rev. Tomaž Mavrič, C.M., Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission and successor of St. Vincent de Paul

Vincentian Heritage Convocation 2017, Honorees

  • Honorary Doctoral Degree: Rev. Patrick J. Griffin, C.M., Executive Director of the Vincentian Center for Church and State, St. John’s University.
  • Vincentian Mission Award: Mr. Kurt Von Voetsch, Gallery Manager, Castellani Art Museum, Adjunct Professor, Theatre and Fine Arts, Niagara University.
  • St. Vincent de Paul Medal: William Bradberry ’70, B.A., J.D., President and Chairman Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Area Commission, Community Activist, Columnist for the Niagara Gazette
  • St. John-Gabriel Perboyre Award: Rev. Patrick Flanagan, CM,’87, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Theology and Religious Studies, Religious Superior, Vincentian Community Murray House, St. John’s University
  • St. Louise De Marillac Award for Outstanding Service: Denise Gonez-Santos, Executive Director, Regional Bilingual Education-Resource Network West, Supervisor, Erie 1 BOCES
  • Ozanam Medal: Dr. Mustafa Gökçek, Ph.D. Associate Professor, History Department. Director, M.A. – Interdisciplinary Studies, Niagara University

Vincentian Heritage Convocation 2016, Honorees

  • The Rev. John Rybolt, C.M., Ph.D., Honorary Doctoral Degree, Vincentian Scholar-in-Residence
  • Michael Skowronski, Vincentian Mission Award, Corporate Relations Developer Career Services 
  • Gary Hall, St. Vincent de Paul Medal, President and CEO of WTS Inc. 
  • Sister Mary Johnice Rzadkiewicz, C.S.S.F., St. Louise de Marillac Award for Outstanding Service, Executive Director of Response to Love Center 
  • Peggy Choong, Ph.D., Ozanam Medal, Professor of Marketing

Vincentian Heritage Convocation 2015, Honorees

  • The Rev. W. Barry Moriarty, C.M., Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters
  • David Campbell, ’63, St. Vincent de Paul Medal
  • Dr. Chris Lee, Associate Professor, Political Science, Ozanam Medal
  • Derek Puff, Assistant Director of Recreation and Intramurals, Vincentian Mission Award
  • The Rev. Stephen Grozio, C.M., ’75, Perboyre Medal
  • Kathaleen Granchelli, St. Louise de Marillac Award for Outstanding Service