Homecoming 2000 Alumni Awards

Outstanding Alumni Award:

Jerry Sondgeroth (AU) BS '60
Jerry Sondgeroth received his bachelor's degree from Aurora University and lives in the city of Aurora. Sondgeroth will be the recipient of the AU Outstanding Alumni Award. This honor is given to those who, through their efforts, have made outstanding contributions to our society. (Presenter - Roald Berg, AU '56)

Luesette Howell (GWC) BA '72, MS '75
Luesette Howell, now residing in Switzerland, received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from George Williams College. She and her husband, Pete, are active in Aurora University's SHADOW Program. Luesette will be honored this weekend with the GWC Outstanding Alumni Award. She will join a list of over 65 who, through their efforts, have made outstanding contributions to our society. (Presenter - Rebekah Burroway, AU '00)

Recent Alumni Award:

Larry Langston (AU) BS '92
Larry Langston obtained his bachelor's degree from Aurora University. He is currently Chief of Police for the Aurora Police Department and resides in Aurora. This year, Larry will be receiving the Recent Alumni Award. Langston was picked for his award based on his extraordinary service to the community and his leadership. (Presenter - Mayor David Stover, AU '78, '88)

Outstanding Graduate School Alumni Award:

Pete Howell (GWC) MS '73
Pete Howell is an alumnus of George Williams College. He obtained his master's from GWC and currently resides in Switzerland with his wife Luesette. He keeps in contact with the University by his involvement in the SHADOW Program. Pete was chosen to receive the Outstanding Graduate School Alumni Award because he is one who attended GWC or AU exclusively for his master's degree and he has made a significant mark on his profession. His life has also been an example of striving to uphold the University's motto of "Character and Scholarship." (Presenter - Julie Todd, AU Student)

Roger K. Parolini Lifetime Achievement Award:

Verneta Hill (GWC) '39
Verneta Hill is a graduate of George Williams College and has retired to San Francisco, California. In 1939, Verneta made history by becoming the first black woman to graduate from GWC. By 1944, Verneta was adding to her list of "firsts" by becoming the first woman to become an executive director in the YMCA and later, became the first black director in the YWCA. Verneta has been chosen to receive the Roger K. Parolini Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given to those who have made a positive impact on the lives of several individuals or on the well being of an educational, social service, or religious institution or cause. (Presenter - Robert Freitag, GWC '34)

Athletic Hall of Fame Awards 2000:

Joy Umenhofer-Nielsen (GWC) BS '77
Joy Umenhofer-Nielsen is a resident of Pocatello, Idaho. She will be honored with an induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame for her contributions as part of the GWC Gymnastics team. In 1999, she was named the U.S. Trampoline Coach of the Year by USA Gymnastics and she also coached at the Trampoline World Championships.

Mark Proctor (AU) BS '63
Mark Proctor, a current resident of Sugar Grove, received his bachelor's degree from Aurora University. He is a teacher at Jewel Middle School. Mark will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame to recognize his performance and contributions to basketball. (Presenter - Roald Berg, AU '56)

Bernie Noble (AU) BS '59
Bernie Noble graduated from Aurora University. Among his many contributions to the school, Bernie was named Athlete of the Year in 1958 for his performances on the baseball team. After AU, Bernie began a coaching and teaching career that lasted 31 years. One of his successes included leading a losing team to the District 7 tournament and molding them into winners as they took the title for the tournament. Bernie recently passed away.

1990 AU Baseball Team
The 1990 AU baseball team set two goals prior to the start of their baseball season. They wanted to win an eighth consecutive NIIC championship and return to the MidEast Regional tournament. In the end, they accomplished much, much more. When all was said and done, the Spartans ended up becoming the Nation's number two Division III team, with several team members receiving prestigious honors.

1960 GWC Men's Volleyball Team
The 1960 men's volleyball team took on a formidable schedule. Team members took first place in the Midwest Collegiate Tourney at Michigan State from a field of eight teams. Then they had two consecutive third-place finishes in the Gateway Open at Beloit, Wisconsin, and Lawson YMCA in Chicago. At the National USVBA Collegiate in Dallas, Texas, the team made first place.

1975 GWC Women's Basketball Team
Back in the days, when there were no sports divisions in schools, the 1975 GWC women's basketball team had a phenomenal season. The team's regular season record was 11 wins and one loss. However, this team played schools like the University of Illinois, the University of Wisconsin, Illinois State, Valparaiso University, as well as several schools currently in Division III (including Aurora, which GWC beat 49 to 29).