Alumni Feature
Siena Heights Announces 2016 Alumni Award Winners
This Year ’ s Recipients Will Be Honored Oct . 7 During Homecoming Weekend
Recent Graduate Award
Amy Wertenberger ’ 08 , ’ 11 / MA
Wertenberger is a licensed professional counselor who specializes in equine assisted counseling . As the owner and operator of Stable Way counseling center , she rescues miniature horses and uses them as therapy animals to help troubled adolescents and children . Most of the youth come from the foster care system . She also is a case manager for the Salvation Army ’ s Harbor Lights of Monroe , Mich ., where she assists with locating housing , employment , substance abuse prevention and other services for homeless veterans . She is also a 4-H Club leader and an accomplished equestrian . Currently a doctoral student at the University of Toledo , she hopes to teach and train new counselors as a professor the graduate level . The Recent Graduate Award recognizes alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years , and whose professional achievement , community involvement and / or civic commitment demonstrate dedication to Christian values and the spirit of Siena Heights University .
Sister Ann Joachim Award
Patty Driscoll-Shaw ’ 70
The longtime educator and nurse has been an advocate for the poor and oppressed , especially in Latin American countries . In her earlier years , the former Adrian Dominican and Maryknoll Sister originally spent some time in Peru with an international team of priests and sisters working alongside and witnessing to poor factory workers . In Michigan , she helped start the MICAH organization that defended human rights in Latin America . She also taught English as a Second Language courses for the Detroit Public Schools . At age 42 , she received her nurse practitioner degree so she could go to Central American countries like Guatemala , Panama and Honduras and teach health care to the locals , even riding donkeys and horses when necessary to get to very remote areas . She then helped teach and train other nurses in the Chicago area , eventually becoming a recruiter for Maryknoll Lay Mission Program . The Sister Ann Joachim Award recognizes significant contributions to the University and / or community through activities that demonstrate strong leadership and the capacity to confront issues head on while maintaining the image and spirit of Siena Heights .
Saint Dominic Award
Katie Guilbault Decker ’ 89
The award-winning principal in Las Vegas took a struggling inner-city school and transformed it into one the best in the state . The Walter Bracken STEAM Academy uses innovative approaches to education , and Decker is at the forefront of those efforts . Decker traveled to Washington , D . C ., to receive a National Blue Ribbon Award — only one of three Nevada schools to earn the honor . She is currently the principal of three STEAM academies , adding Hollingsworth and Walter Long in the past year . Some of her educational innovations include a yearly school garden project , an outdoor chess board , desert habitat , outdoor labs — even a mascot . All lessons and homework are posted online . Decker constantly surveys her students , teachers and parents to make data-driven decisions . For her efforts , she was named the 2013 Magnet Schools of America Principal of the Year . The Saint Dominic Award recognizes commitment to Christian education in family , school or community .
Outstanding Alumni Award
Sister Catherine Camille DeClercq , OP ’ 58
Sister Catherine has served in numerous capacities with the Adrian Dominican Sisters , starting as a music teacher at the elementary and secondary school levels . She later served the Congregation as Administrator and a General Council member . She also has had a distinguished career in the health care industry . Sister Catherine served as assistant to the president at Mercy Health Services from 1987- 2000 , and was named vice president for Governance and Sponsorship of Trinity Health in 2000 . She later was promoted to senior vice president and then to executive vice president , her current position . She is a liaison between Trinity Health and its Catholic sponsor , Catholic Health Ministries and the Trinity Health Board of Directors . The Trinity system comprises 86 hospitals in 21 states with approximately 89,000 employees . She also currently serves on the Sponsor Canon Law Committee of the Catholic Health Association . Sister Catherine received the CHA ’ s Sister ‐Concilia Visionary Leadership Award in 2009 .
Outstanding Alumni Award
Sister Sharon McGuire , OP ’ 68
Sister Sharon was a former elementary school teacher before starting a health care / education ministry that focused on improving the condition of migrant workers . Earning her PhD in nursing , she spent many years at migrant camps in California , Texas and Florida . In California , she volunteered with the United Farm Workers organization and worked in their headquarters with civil rights pioneer Cesar Chavez . She also served as the first full-time faculty member in in the Siena Heights nursing program , teaching RN to BSN students . An award in her name was established to recognize outstanding SHU nursing students . Most recently , she was an online nursing professor for Walden University in Minneapolis , Minn ., before passing away in May 2016 . The Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes outstanding professional achievements and / or volunteer contributions to promote Siena positively to the community , demonstrate strong leadership characteristics and serve as significant role models for others .
Honorary Alumni Award
Dr . Louis Vaccaro
The Honorary Alumni Award winner is former Siena Heights President Dr . Louis Vaccaro of Las Vegas , Nev . His presidency from 1978-83 was highlighted by tremendous growth and improvements at Siena Heights College . Under Dr . Vaccaro ’ s leadership , the college doubled the amount of sports it sponsored on the intercollegiate level . Dr . Vaccaro was also instrumental in overseeing the construction of the Student Activities Center ( aka the “ Fieldhouse ”) that led to the development of strong intercollegiate athletic programs for the Saints . He also helped establish an international student presence on campus and continued to work internationally in China after his retirement from American higher education . Dr . Vaccaro also served as president at Colby-Sawyer College , the College of Saint Rose , and Georgian Court College . He continues to be engaged with the University and has authored a couple of books , including his autobiography , “ Around the Corner , from Shoeshine Boy to College President .” The Honorary Alumni Award recognizes non-alumni of Siena Heights who demonstrate exceptional commitment to and support for the mission and spirit of the University .
24 | Reflections Summer ’ 16