The Thomas A. Gerhardt '55 Memorial Award for Student Leadership honors a member of the most recent graduating class for his or her leadership as an undergraduate and dedication to the University and the community through service to God and neighbor. It began in 1960 as the Award for Student Leadership and was renamed in 1964 upon the death of Gerhardt, the beloved eighth president of the Associated Students of the University of Portland.
Kaylan Tate, originally of San Jose, CA, studied Biology and Spanish with a minor in Theology. She was involved in the Office of Admissions as a Tour Guide and Student Ambassador. In addition, Kaylan was heavily involved in the Honors Program and its Student Advisory Board. Campus Ministry played a big role in her life at UP, from lectoring at mass to leading small groups and coordinating retreats. In Residence Life, Kaylan served as a Faith and Formation Ambassador as well as a Resident Assistant in various dorms. She participated in ornithology research over the course of several years and had the opportunity to study abroad in Granada, Spain for a semester. By expanding her network across campus, Kaylan was able to see what makes the people in our UP community who they are and how they make the University what it is today. Building on her undergraduate experience in Admissions, she joined University full-time staff the summer of 2023 as a new UP Admissions Counselor.
Kaylee DeLoye, originally from Oahu, HI and Southern California, studied Business Administration focused in Operations and Technology Management. She was involved as a Resident Assistant across multiple halls (even abroad in Australia!), a Campus Ministry student leader, a Peer Career Advisor, and a First Year Workshop Leader amongst other roles and internships. Kaylee worked at Target’s Hawaii Distribution Center as an Operations Management Intern the summer between her junior and senior years. She challenged herself in a fast-paced and results-driven environment where she developed her love for leading and supporting others, and her passion for driving meaningful results while contributing to a bigger cause. Kaylee is currently pursuing an MBA at UP while supporting students and helping guide them towards their authentic purpose as the 2023-2024 Lund Family Hall Assistant Hall Director.
Katie Wojda, originally of St. Paul, Minnesota, has been engaged with the Moreau Center and Campus ministry during her time on The Bluff. She has invited others to engage with the community at St. Andre Bessette as the Campus Volunteer Coordinator for the past two years and has been active in a variety of Campus Ministry programs. She also regularly participates in the service and justice programs of others, bringing her honest questions, welcoming spirit, and eagerness to learn to those spaces. She has been intentionally seeking opportunities for her own growth, particularly as it relates to understanding racial injustice, her own privilege, and how her faith informs her beliefs and actions. She also served as an Intern for Justice this past summer with the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition. Laurie Laird, Director of the Moreau Center reflected, “Her commitment to her life of faith has kept her connected and continuing to reach out to find ways of diving deeper into her life of faith.” After graduation, Katie will be working with Jesuit Volunteer Corps with a Spanish speaking community in Chicago. “She is just a joy filled and outgoing young woman who has been a blessing to this community and has been deliberate about using her time here at UP to grow in her faith, her capacity to do good for others and to grow in her awareness of beauty and wonder in the world,” said Fr. James Gallagher, C.S.C., Director of Campus Ministry.
Sage Taylor, originally from Portland, Oregon, has made a huge impact since arriving on campus. As an active member in many co-curricular activities on campus, Sage has been seen as a contributor, collaborator, and supporter of the UP family. Sage’s ability to be thoughtful, insightful and understanding served him well as he helped our community navigate unprecedented times during the last two school years. Starting off as an ASUP Senator and then holding the title of President, Sage’s commitment to represent his fellow students on multiple Covid-19 protocol committees reflected his desire to help the UP community navigate through a difficult time. He participated in the filming of videos to promote our guidelines, sometimes as himself and other times hidden in the famous Wally the Pilot costume. On the Student Affairs committee for the Board of Regents, Sage was a popular and engaging figure. Sage has also been a regular fixture in the UP Faith community throughout his time on the Bluff, with participating in Mass at his residence hall and at the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. “From the moment Sage appeared on campus, he has been a contributor. I have come to know this extraordinary joyful and polite young man from my encounters with him. He has held more positions than I can recount but always with a spirit and energy as if it is the only thing he has to do,” Fr. John Donato, C.S.C, VP for Student Affairs reflected. Sage will be spending his next year as a Jesuit Volunteer Corps in New York, New York.
Tom Gerhardt ’55 was a remarkable young man who was known for his leadership, dedication to the University and its community, and service to neighbor. We celebrate him annually by choosing one individual from the graduating class who, like Tom, is energetic and creative, funny and bright, kind and generous. While attending UP, graduate Diana Salgado-Huicochea was fearless in modeling solidarity, reflection, social justice, and community through work with Campus Ministry, Diversity and Inclusion Program, FGEN, and as an RA in Mehling Hall. Diana quickly became a leader at the University and is described as being exceptional in her intelligence, social consciousness, and authentically joyful presence. Her faith guides her and is the deep well from which she draws her strength. Following graduation, Diana will continue serving communities of faith in her participation in a two-year service program through the University of Notre Dame.
Commitment to service is the guiding principle of 2019 nursing graduate Cathryn Casey. “Service has taught me the importance of being an ally, of using my privilege to work with others to make tangible change,” she says. As the service and justice coordinator of Tyson and Haggerty Halls, Cathryn facilitated volunteer opportunities with nonprofits such as Night Strike, Friends of Trees, and Catholic Charities. She helped deliver Thanksgiving dinners to low-income families, worked at the Village Gardens and Weed Warriors, volunteered at Boys and Girls Club and Potluck in the Park, and served dinners to community members in downtown Portland at St. Andre Bessette’s Catholic Church. While studying abroad in Australia, she spent a week in the Australian Bush living with and learning from the indigenous people. She has worked with Syrian refugees in trauma support groups, tutoring their children in math. She has also been a participant and a group leader on the Moreau Center’s Rural Immersion in Yakima, Washington, visiting farms and hearing stories of migrant farmworkers and members of the Yakima Nation. She spent a nursing rotation working with the men recovering from addiction at the Blanchet House of Hospitality, and she completed her capstone at Our House, a residential facility for people living with HIV and AIDs. Cathryn completed her final UP immersion in Tanzania this spring. Upon graduation, she will join the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest where she will provide wellness activities, education, mentorship, and tutoring for students at a rural satellite campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Bethel, Alaska.
Tsikata Apenyo was born in Ghana and because his father worked for the Department of Defense, spent his childhood moving throughout the U.S. until his family settled in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He is a native speaker of Ewe, has complete proficiency in English, and has a working proficiency in four other languages – Twi, Akan, Fanti and Ga. Apenyo excelled academically at UP, graduating in May with honors as a biology major and chemistry minor. During his freshman year, he helped on a research project with mathematics professor Hannah Highlander, creating a system that models the spread of interpersonal violence and also predicts the most efficient means of prevention. Among his service projects, Apenyo helped coordinate clothing drives to help the homeless in Portland, and after becoming certified in ASIST suicide prevention training, volunteered for the Lines For Life substance abuse and suicide prevention hotline. He was a four-year member of UP’s Army ROTC program, was president of Schoenfeldt Residence Hall, represented the College of Arts and Sciences as an ASUP senator, and served as vice president of ASUP during his junior year. He plans to become a physician, but will spend the next year teaching English to students in Taiwan as a recipient of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program English Teaching Assistantship award.
University of Portland nursing graduate Valerie has consistently put her faith into action, bending her energy toward service to those in need. Providing assistance to others became her life goal while she was working as a high school page for United States Senator Dianne Feinstein. This call to serve led Valerie to study nursing at UP where she has excelled academically, co-authoring a paper about the liturgical aspects of mercy with professor David Turnbloom. In her call to serve, Valerie co-founded and led the UP Campus Lions Club which has organized food drives for the Oregon Food Bank and a clothing drive for low income patients at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital among other efforts. Valerie has also focused much of her energy toward combating sexual assault on campus. In support of that effort, she has worked as a peer educator at UP’s Health and Counseling Center and assisted professor Lauretta Frederking in designing stickers listing sexual assault resources at UP. Valerie also helped plan the campus viewing of The Hunting Ground, a documentary about sexual assaults on college campuses. And in collaboration with Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., she helped create a Take Back the Night event, allowing students a forum to offer support for each other and to voice their concerns about sexual assault. Valerie has been a Faith and Fellowship guest writer for The Beacon. And she has put her faith into practice by volunteering with the parish nursing ministry at her home church where she created an end-of-life planning workshop. Valerie brought her workshop presentation to professor Barbara Braband, and together they created a classroom simulation that provided UP nursing students with the opportunity to practice end-of-life discussions. Valerie hopes to continue her studies in order to become a nurse practitioner, and to work in public health advocacy.
Nursing major Shelley West, a native of Dayton, Ohio, is an entertaining and energetic young woman who has been a volunteer and leader since her very first shy days “when I was a freshman grasping at spiritual straws,” she says. Telephone Outreach Program caller (and supervisor of student callers), Student Nurses’ Association activities coordinator, nursing lab tutor, campus ministry volunteer, Moreau Center service coordinator, and volunteer for the Native American Youth and Family Center. Even as she studied abroad in Fremantle, Australia, she volunteered with the Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center, which ministers to maritime workers. Back on The Bluff, she also managed to find time to play on the campus ultimate Frisbee team, minor in social justice, and “has never lost an eating competition,” as she says cheerfully. “I’ve learned so much through service,” she says. “Putting love to action gave me a glimpse of the humility, purpose, and challenge of a life dedicated to others through Christ’s example…. service has allowed me to recognize my joy and passion and purpose, to forge relationships and understanding across cultural lines. To me, service is a lifestyle.”
Nicholas MacKinnon, of the class of 2015, is energetic and creative, funny and bright, kind and generous. Nick is a mechanical engineering major who has immersed himself in an array of opportunities. He’s an Air Force cadet, and a volunteer in the University’s Green Dot program, which aims to combat interpersonal violence. Nick is also an Encounter with Christ Coordinator and Eucharistic minister, a leader in Campus Ministry’s RCIA programs, and a volunteer at local homeless shelters and in Haiti. Nick astutely says that he has “come to learn that there are so many vulnerable people in the world, people who cannot defend themselves. But we all can protect and serve our brothers and sisters in Christ.” Nick begins training as an Air Force pilot in May; he will also continue work on the medical technology company he founded with fellow engineering students.
California native Gilbert Resendez, a self-described “mass communication, advertising, media, journalism, business nerd” who dreams of running his own ad agency someday has been a whirlwind of activity since arriving on The Bluff. Pilot game management assistant, student senator, service coordinator for the Moreau Center, summer housing coordinator, Christie Hall sacristan, academic peer advisor, and volunteer tennis coach in St. Johns; in addition to his business and entrepreneurship major and communication studies minor. His business capstone project gives a hint of his future career, perhaps: he has been helping a local church with market research and customer analysis. “Service and leadership are married at the University,” he says. “One cannot exist without the other. As regent Kay Toran ’64 has taught me, genuine service is leadership.”
Tom Gerhardt, president of the student body as a senior on The Bluff, was a remarkable young man – popular, talented, funny, brave, and brilliant. An Air Force veteran, he had just seen his business career blossom when he died suddenly, far too young, leaving a young widow and son. But it says something powerful and crucial about the University that we remember him annually to this day with this award – an honor presented annually to a senior on The Bluff who, like Tom, is energetic and creative, funny and bright, kind and generous. So we are especially delighted to honor Noelle Niedo this year, because the list of her creative service efforts is as long as your arm: our student International Club, the International Student Services office, Saint Andre Bessette Parish downtown, World Youth Day in Brazil and Spain, our chapel handbell choir, our weekly prayer group, and a volunteer in pediatric and physical therapy units at a local hospital. And all this is in addition to her academic feats – she plans to attend medical school and eventually return to her native Samoa as a doctor. We are delighted, as a University community, to honor a young woman who has taken the University’s mission, and Tom Gerhardt’s spirit, totally to heart.
We are especially delighted to honor Kailey Sparks because she is a perfect example of a student who poured herself into the endless possibilities of University education. Majoring in nursing and Spanish, serving as an RA in Mehling Hall, studying abroad in Spain, service coordinator for the Moreau Center, spiritual retreat leader, Eucharistic minister at Mass, volunteer at Saint Andre Bessette Parish and Habitat for Humanity — is there anything Kailey did not do in her four years on The Bluff? And off she goes in May to be a nurse, and eventually, she hopes, to earn her nursing doctorate and work in South America. We salute and celebrate a young woman who took this University’s service and spiritual ethic utterly to heart, and we say with confidence that here is a graduate of whom Tom Gerhardt would be proud — and there may be no greater compliment than that.
The list of Katie Scally's creative service efforts is as long as your arm: student body vice president, creator of the Northwest college student leaders summit, Student Advisory Council member, volunteer in Nicaragua, mentor for freshmen students, Special Olympics coach, intern for California state government, and now headed to postgraduate service either in City Hall in San Francisco or in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. The fact is that Katie Scally, much like the late Tom Gerhardt, took this University’s service ethic utterly to heart, poured herself into creative ways to serve the Christ in every heart, and is a student of whom Tom Gerhardt would be enormously proud – and there may be no greater compliment than that.
Alyssa Schmidt-Carr is an officer in student government, and we have been hugely impressed with the way she is admired and respected by her peers, the way she poured herself endlessly into projects big and small, the way she created new energies like the Black Student Union and the Martin Luther King Day of Service, the way she never stopped listening to hearts and souls young and old. As she sails off to a career as a doctor, we salute and celebrate a young woman who took this University’s service ethic utterly to heart, and we say with absolute confidence that here is a graduate of whom Tom Gerhardt would be enormously proud – and there may be no greater compliment than that.
Karen Bortvedt is a passionate, gifted, and engaged leader of her peers, a soul who early divined and ever since evinced the University’s dedication to spiritual search, service to others, and the miraculous epiphanies present in every instant, event, and living being. Her absolute and unswerving commitment to social justice, her refreshingly deep and powerful faith, her courteous but meticulous organizational skill, these are only a few of the virtues that made her a superb and memorable student and will feed, we pray, a life of selfless and remarkable service. As she sails from The Bluff into that life, we celebrate a young woman of whom Tom Gerhardt would be very proud – and there may be no greater compliment at the University of Portland than that.
We are pleased to honor David Gregg – like Tom Gerhardt, president of the student body – because we have been greatly impressed with the way he is admired and respected by his peers, the way in which he poured himself heart and soul into vast projects like the national Focus the Nation event here in January, his deft work in class as a history scholar, and his devotion to service as prime pillar of a well-lived life. As he sails off to postgraduate service in Europe and Africa, and into, we hope, a long and productive career in the diplomatic corps, we celebrate a young man of whom Tom Gerhardt would be proud – and there may be no greater compliment than that.
During her time on campus, Allison demonstrated a sincere dedication to promoting peace through direct service and witness. She traveled twice to Nicaragua with the Office of Volunteer Services Immersion program, the second time serving as co-coordinator. Allison wrote a public blog about the experience to share the lessons of the trip with a wider audience. She has also been the campus coordinator of Pax Christi, organizing peace vigils and bringing speakers to campus. Allison spent last summer with the Los Angeles Catholic Worker, where she worked in a soup kitchen and a homeless shelter. Most importantly, Allison was willing to engage the entire campus as well as the world through her service and witness.
While all of this year’s candidates were exceptional students, Becky Schwantes rose to the top as the clear choice as recipient of this year’s award. Becky’s submission makes it clear that she is a student who wholly embraces, as committee member Brian Doyle commented, “the University's deep dream to produce students who would find and shape their gifts into swords to fight poverty, hunger, despair.” Her list of activities in service to the University and her community at large is impressive by any standard. On campus, Becky has given her time to Campus Ministry, the Feminist Club, Residence Life and the School of Social Work. Outside of the University, Becky is tireless in her commitment to community service, finding time to participate in a number of activities with her church and such organizations as the Girl Scouts of America. She comes highly recommended for the award with three glowing references, and those references were mirrored by the committee.
Before leaving campus in May 2005 to join the ranks of alumni, Travis Tompkins ’05 was honored with the Thomas A. Gerhardt Memorial Award for Student Leadership for his dedication to teaching, faith, service, and leadership among his peers. Travis was nominated for the award through his work with the Air Force ROTC detachment on campus, but it is clear his devotion to service and leadership does not stop there. Travis has worked as a coordinator for the Encounter with Christ retreat, played in a variety of bands on campus, volunteered for the YMCA, and served as a retreat leader for Ascension Catholic Church. Travis is a dedicated and faithful alumnus who displayed breadth of leadership and involvement throughout his years on The Bluff.
James Capra ’04, who graduated from the University with a degree in sociology was praised for his leadership on campus, and demonstrating a commitment to leadership beyond The Bluff through his work with ROTC. James was praised for the diversity of his involvement, having worked with Residence Life, Intramural Sports, ROTC and Volunteer Services. His commitment to his faith, as well as his school spirit has been unsurpassed in his four years at UP.
His work as a resident assistant for Shipstad, his dedication to his Salzburg companions, his leadership with the Blue Key Club and his devotion to Campus Ministry singled Ryan out as an outstanding student leader. Those nominating Ryan referred to his consistent and unyielding work with the Office of Volunteer Services, his trips to Tijuana to help with the St. Jude Parish and his service at Blanchet House as just a few of the projects that keep this young scholar busy. With a major in Philosophy and minors in both German and Mathematics, Ryan is as busy academically as he is socially. We hope that he will always find time for his alma mater in his future plans.
Upon arriving on The Bluff from far-flung Minnesota, Michael set about becoming one of the most startlingly active, accomplished, and respected University students ever. In residence life, volunteer services, campus ministry, student clubs and organizations, in class and lab, on mountains and in forests, Michael grew to be a cheerful student leader so influential and able that he concluded his senior year not only with the Gerhardt Award, presented for tireless and selfless service, but the Arts & Sciences Deans’ Award for exemplary intellectual exploration and accomplishment. Never a cold word, always an artless grin, and now headed to France to work for the L’Arche community in service to disabled men, women, and children, Michael is a wonderful ambassador for the University’s mission tenets in action. He will be much missed on the campus he so graced.
Amy Stenson ’01, who graduated from the University with a degree in criminal justice and a minor in theology, has been described by peers, friends, and faculty as an exemplar of a concerned, active, passionate student. For two years, Amy served as the student coordinator for Habitat for Humanity and spent her spring breaks participating in that organization’s Collegiate Challenge, building homes for those in need. As a resident assistant Amy worked in Mehling and Haggerty Halls. She also participated in the Salzburg program during her sophomore year, serving as the co-chairperson of the House Council abroad. On campus, she worked to further her goal of creating a community accepting of all people by serving as assistant chairperson of the Residence Life Committee on Diversity.
Jeanette Heli recently earned bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and music performance with a minor in German. During her time on The Bluff, she spent a year in Salzburg; volunteered at the Brother Andre Cafe at the Downtown Chapel in Portland, Christmas in April, Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge, and a variety of environmental programs; was a resident assistant for two years; led the new student orientation crew her senior year; student-taught at several North Portland elementary schools, and volunteered for Ethos, Inc., the non-profit music program started by Charles Lewis ’94.
Molly Deady ’99, who graduated with degrees in marketing and management, proved herself as a leader of her peers and as a committed volunteer for many organizations during her four years at the University. Molly held the positions of vice president and secretary of ASUP and served in the student senate. She was a board member of the Business Leadership Council, an Orientation group leader, and a retreat coordinator in addition to several other activities on The Bluff. Molly’s volunteer work included participation in the University’s Freshman Plunge, in which new students spend their first two days as University students in service in Portland’s homeless hotels and shelters, and the Rural Plunge, in which students prepare housing for migrant farm workers while learning about the issues migrant workers face. She also volunteered as a tutor at St. Stephens Grade School and has served as secretary for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital’s “Kids Making Miracles” program. Molly began her association with Doernbecher as a high school student to honor her best friend who died of leukemia.
Marcia Koenig, who graduated from the University with a degree in psychology, a minor in Spanish, and a certificate in peace studies, spent her four years at the University involved in a range of campus activities. She was a member of the Orientation Crew, International Club, Social Science Club, and Hawaiian Club, and she participated in several intramural sports. Her involvement in the International Club included service as the club’s president and coordinator of International Week. Marcia also spent a great deal of time during her undergraduate years immersed in volunteer programs. She served as coordinator of the Refugee Assistance Program and as a volunteer for the REX (Religious Experience for eXceptional people) and International Mentoring programs. She also spent part of her summer in 1997 with a group from the University at the Maryknoll Call & Response Program in Oaxaca, Mexico, and helped build low-income housing during her spring break in 1998 for the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge in Phoenix. “Marcia has shown consistent and enthusiastic commitment to leadership, ministry, and service,” said one University staff member. “I believe she will be one of the brightest lights of the class of ’98 as she goes forward into the world.”
1997 - James Gannon
1996 - Amy Gardner
1995 - Julia A. Klouda
1994 - Bruce W. Rohr
1993 - Jennifer K. Kessi
1992 - Maureen G. Kuffner
1991 - James R. Kessi
1990 - Barbara A. Lang
1989 - Christina A. Austin
1988 - Christine Greiner
1987 - Douglas Trocinski
1986 - Raylynn Ryoko Higa
1985 - Kelly J. Krautscheid
1984 - Unknown/No Award Given
1983 - Unknown/No Award Given
1982 - Unknown/No Award Given
1981 - Unknown/No Award Given
1980 - Christopher M. Gianotti
1979 - Katherine A. Dunsmore
1978 - Helen Eloise Diggs
1977 - Thomas G. Corti
1976 - Thomas C. Manning
1975 - Carl L. Meininger
1974 - Kathleen L. Watt
1973 - William C. Taorimina
1972 - Daniel C. O'Neill
1971 - Alfred James Riles
1970 - Kathleen Ann Sullivan
1969 - Leslie Ann Yorkston
1968 - William J. Lindekugel
1967 - Kathleen Doyle
1966 - Edward Mosey
1965 - William Madden
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