Reflections Magazine Issue #87 - Fall 2018 | Page 31

Alumni Feature
Siena Heights Announces 2018
Alumni Award Winners
This Year’s Recipients Will Be Honored Oct. 5 During Homecoming Weekend
Honorary Alumni
Award
to ensure the safety of the
residents of his county. In
addition to his work life,
Dr. Robert Gordon
Tommy in known for playing
Tecumseh, MI
bagpipes with the 35th In-
dian Pipes and Drums. He
loves to use this talent for
good and often honors our
veterans by playing after
their Honor Flight home.
Local elementary students
know him as ‘Tommy the
Piper’ as he volunteers every
Bob Gordon’s three-plus
year at multicultural night
decades of service to Siena
where he arrives in full Scot-
Heights reflect a deep com- tish gear and plays his pipes
mitment to student learning, to their delight.
a consistent openness to
new ideas and new technol-
Sister Ann
ogy, and an unwavering
Joachim Award
embrace of Siena’s Adrian
Dominican roots. Even now, Paula Zimmer ’69
some years into his retire-
Madison Heights, MI
ment, he remains engaged
with the people, programs
and values of the institution.
He is a true embodiment of
the mission and spirit of
Siena Heights making him
an excellent choice for an
Honorary Alumni.
Paula worked as a legal aid
Recent Graduate attorney and executive di-
rector at Oakland-Livingston
Award
Legal Aid and also worked
Thomas Thompson ’09
at the Michigan Poverty Law
Burlington, KY
Project in Ann Arbor. Like
Sister Ann Joachim, Paula’s
determination to minister to
those in need stayed with
her throughout long years of
providing legal advice and
guidance to others. She
worked with pregnant teens,
teaching them about their
Thomas ‘Tommy’ Thompson rights. She educated law
serves as Director of Emer-
students hired as legal aid
gency Communications in
interns in her agency, and
Kenton Co., KY. In this role,
she assisted the elderly by
he works to improve 911
helping them to understand
emergency communications
their rights and to gain ac-
cess to legal services to
which they were entitled.
Paula advocated always for
the people she served in-
cluding young and old, the
underprivileged and the
poor and suffering in the
State of Michigan.
Saint Dominic
Award Saint Dominic
Award
Sean Jorgensen ’95
Monroe, MI Beth McCullough ’86
Adrian, MI
Sean Jorgensen serves as
President of St. Mary Catho-
lic Central High School in
Monroe, MI. He is a tireless
advocate for Catholic Educa-
tion and has been instru-
mental in his work to ensure
that financial barriers do not
keep students from attend-
ing his school. He instills the
Dominican values of educa-
tion, preaching, and com-
munity into everything he
does with his students. A
recent graduating class cel-
ebrated 100% college ac-
ceptance and over 9,000
hours of Christian service
under his leadership. His
heart for mission and living
the gospel is evident in his
leading faculty and students
on multiple mission trips to
Guatemala. Beth McCullough ’86 serves
as Homeless Coordinator at
Adrian Public Schools as
well as Lenawee County.
Each year she helps improve
the lives and educational
opportunities of countless
homeless youth in Lenawee
County. Because of her ef-
forts, she has received na-
tional acclaim and been
recognized by the White
House. For her work and
leadership in our community
and beyond, we recognize
her with the Saint Dominic
Award.
Outstanding
Alumni Award
Michael Kirk Lane ’05
Astoria, NY
Michael Kirk Lane works
professionally in theater in
New York City. He focuses
his time in the Cabaret com-
munity and is a two-time
nominee for the MAC
Award. His love of theater
has been a springboard for
many related good works.
He is an associate producer
for No Strings Productions
creating puppet films for
children in troubled regions.
Michael is known for his
creative generosity to SHU
and spends countless hours
of his time back in Adrian
assisting with theater pro-
ductions such as Laramie
Project Ten Years Later. As
former President of the
Alumni Board, he continues
to give of himself freely for
Siena events and is very
dedicated to this University.