Distinguished Alumni Award 2017
Carmen Hanson Riveria ’ 70
It is no surprise that Distinguished Alumni Award winner Carmen Hansen Rivera ’70 was recognized by her alma mater for her commitment to community, as she is known for her passion to help diverse populations achieve success – both personally and professionally.
With a degree in Spanish, Rivera founded Carmen, Inc., a marketing group that helps businesses reach the Hispanic community. For more than 35 years, she has worked with organizations as a leader in the multi-cultural community including St. Vincent Hospital. She was asked to research and implement a model for a multi-cultural department within the hospital system – a model that successfully launched in 2000. She also created bilingual public relations campaigns for the Indiana Humanities Council.
For seven years, she served as the producer and host of HOLA USA, a nationally syndicated, bilingual television program that focused on cultural issues. The show featured guests such as Governor George W. Bush and Oscar De La Renta.
At the beginning of her career, Rivera worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, taking on various roles throughout her six years of service. As the regional chairperson of the National Assessment Team, she assessed the effects of social services to the Hispanic population within the U.S.
Rivera has a heart for serving in her community and throughout the state, which was recognized when she received the Archdioceses of Indianapolis Community Service Achievement Award in 2000. Not only that, but Senator Richard Lugar nominated her to serve on the U.S. Senate Task Force on Hispanic Affairs.
Morna Shackelford Patrick ’ 72
Alumna Morna Shackelford Patrick, who passed away on Jan. 9, 2017, was recognized posthumously with a Distinguished Alumni Award as a pillar of her community. Her husband of 44 years, Wayne Patrick, accepted the award on her behalf during the College’s May Commencement ceremonies.
After traveling abroad in Europe early in her marriage to Wayne, Morna, who graduated with a degree in clothing and textiles, continued her job as a buyer for William H. Block department stores, becoming a senior buyer.When her two children began school, Morna served as statewide manager for Doncaster Clothing. She was also a sales consultant for Jafra Cosmetics and an image consultant for executives.
Later in life, Morna had great success as a real estate agent for F.C. Tucker and Keller Williams, becoming a member of MIBOR (Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors). She served as the president of Northside MIBOR in 2016, receiving the 2016 Northside MIBOR Realtor of the Year Award.
Throughout her successful career, she had a commitment to volunteer within her community, serving on the boards of directors at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and The Sycamore School. From 1998 to 2004, Morna served on the alumni association board of directors for SMWC. She was also the president of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra Board and a lifetime member of the Catholic church.
Frances Murphy Rumely Award
Martha “Marti” Rumely Kuehn ’69 is part of a family legacy at The Woods that goes back to 1891. Kuehn, who received the Frances Murphy Rumely Award during the 2017 Reunion, is a “living clone” of her mother, for whom the award is named. Her legacy as a Woodsie began long before she first walked down The Avenue, as her mother and aunts
all graduated from the Academy or SMWC. Fittingly she, along with her siblings, cousins and nieces, kept the tradition alive.
Demonstrating leadership, dedication, love, compassion and spirituality as an educator, artist, realtor and volunteer, Kuehn embodies the spirit of the award and her mother, who volunteered thousands of hours to her college and community. Kuehn served two consecutive terms on the Board of Directors for the Alumni Association from 1995-2001, acting as vice president of the board. She continues to serve by being involved in the local alumni club in Louisville, Ky., where she lives.
As an accomplished artist, Kuehn has painted iconic buildings, statues and scenes on campus. She has donated original prints to The Woods to be sold with proceeds benefiting the College. Kuehn also volunteers with the Gilda’s Club Louisville, Kentucky Refuge Ministries and Louisville Visual Arts Association.
Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Award
In the spirit of the College’s foundress, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Award winner Elizabeth Jacobi ’63 reflects God’s love and abundant grace in the world while possessing strong leadership, purpose, devotion and community service.
With a degree in music education and voice performance, Jacobi became a successful opera soprano and concert soloist. During her career, she performed in many European cities and was a cultural delegate to China. Later, she became a music teacher in the New York City public schools, Director of Project Head Start in New York and a consultant and international lecturer, as well as a founder and director of many music therapy programs.
Much like Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, Jacobi never abandoned her gift despite difficult events in her life and even debilitating arthritis. After her singing career, she found other ways to use music for others. She founded the Music Medicine Institute, a non-profit organization that uses music in a therapeutic relationship to address the physical, psychological, cognitive and social needs of the patient. Jacobi was also instrumental in the formation of the master of arts in music therapy at SMWC.
Jacobi has a master’s of music and voice performance from Rosary College in Florence, Italy, and a music therapy certification from Montclair State University. She did clinical training in behavioral medicine at Harvard Medical School and received her doctorate in clinical psychology from The Union Institute.