Homecoming 2004 Alumni Awards
Distinguished Alumni Award:
 Sherry
Bryant GWC '83
Sherry
Bryant earned a master’s degree in social
work and a postgraduate certificate in community and social service
management from George Williams College in 1983. After graduation,
Bryant was a school social worker until 1999 and during this
time, also entered private practice as a marriage, family, and
individual therapist, which she continues to this day. In 1998,
in response to her son’s 1993 suicide, Bryant became the
founding president of Suicide Prevention Services. In 2001, Bryant
created the Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Planning Committee
and still serves as the chair. Her efforts have become manifest
in a bill in the Illinois House of Representatives designed to
fund suicide prevention measures throughout the state.
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 Stephen
Gephard AC '74
Stephen
Gephard graduated from Aurora
College in 1974 with a bachelor’s
degree in biology with an emphasis in environmental science. After
earning a master’s degree in fisheries biology, he went to
work with the State of Connecticut’s Department of Environmental
Protection where he has worked since 1978. Over the years, he has
garnered international recognition for his work with Atlantic salmon
and fish passage issues in the four northeastern basin states.
In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Gephard as a U.S. commissioner
to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, an international
treaty commission charged with managing Atlantic salmon in the
north Atlantic Ocean.
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 Thomas
Hartman AU '77
After
graduating from Aurora University in 1977 with a bachelor’s
degree in elementary education, Thomas Hartman went
on to earn a master’s degree in elementary administration.
In his teaching career, he has been an elementary school educator
and an assistant principal. He has been the principal of C.M. Bardwell
Elementary School, Aurora’s largest elementary school, for
11 years. He is known for his personal approach, greeting students
and faculty both at the door and in the hallway. Hartman is always
looking out for new programs, clubs, and courses that he can introduce
to his school in a continuous attempt to improve educational opportunities
for students.
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 Dr.
Carol Prchal GWC '79
Dr.
Carol Prchal graduated in 1979 with a B.S. in biology
and physical education. She went on to complete her medical degree,
internship, and residency with the University of Illinois-Chicago
and then joined the Aurora Medical Group in Burlington, WI as an
orthopedic surgeon. Prchal spends time mentoring high school students
interested in a career in medicine and encourages them to balance
their academic efforts with extracurricular interests and is always
willing to talk to current AU students about the medical field.
Prchal has also contributed her time to The Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society as well as working as a medical director for the National
Ski Patrol at a local ski resort.
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 Thomas
Scott GWC '61
Thomas
Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Group
Work at George Williams College in 1961, followed by a master’s
in Social Group Work and Administration at GWC in 1963. He also
received a Certificate of Advanced Study in Adult Education from
the University of Chicago and a doctorate in education from Northern
Illinois University. For many years, Scott was dean of continuing
education and extension at the Central YMCA Community College and
directed the Learning for Living program. From there, he went on
to become the assistant dean and a faculty member in the College
of Continuing Education at Northern Illinois University and then
returned to George Williams College in 1980 as director of extended
learning and dean of the evening and weekend program until 1985.
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 Michael
Skarr AU '72
Michael
Skarr received a middle management certificate from Aurora
University in 1972 as well as an engineering degree and an MBA
before entering the business world. Skarr joined Nicor Inc. where
he began an extensive executive career. Governor Jim Edgar appointed
him to the Illinois State Board of Education where he developed
student learning standards as well as a system of educational accountability
for schools throughout the state. He currently serves as the president
and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, which, with
a membership of over 2,000, is the second-largest Chamber of Commerce
in the nation behind Chicago. Skarr is also a member of several
non-profit boards and advisory boards for several area schools,
including the Aurora University Dunham School of Business advisory
board. |
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