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Notable Alumni & Awards
Notable Alumni
Sharing and recognizing our alumni’s contributions is a true measure of Saint John’s University’s success. Learn more about your fellow alumni’s accomplishments and life experiences on these pages.
Saint John’s alumni have made their mark in every field from business, public service, athletics, and health care to medicine, religion, the arts and more. Explore the categories to the right to learn about these noteworthy alumni.
Award nominations are accepted each year. Contact the SJU Alumni Office for more information.
Alumni Awards
Saint John’s recognizes alumni for service to alma mater as well as career and life achievements through a variety of annual awards. Learn more about these honors:
Father Walter Reger Distinguished Alumnus Award
Fr. Walter Reger, OSB – priest, professor, prefect, dean and friend – was the driving force behind the Saint John’s University Alumni Association for years. He had ties to thousands of Johnnies, corresponding with many of them long into their alumni years. So ardent was his dedication that he became known as “Mr. Saint John’s.”
Since 1971, the Saint John’s University Alumni Association has presented the Fr. Walter Reger Distinguished Alumnus Award in honor of Fr. Walter’s dedication. The award recognizes outstanding service to the Saint John’s community by an alumnus. It is the highest honor given by the Alumni Association.
- 2024 Jim Bassett ’58
- 2023 Scott Becker ’77
- 2022 Dan McKeown ’85
- 2021 Jim Sexton ’81
- 2019 Ken Roering ’64
- 2018 Prince Wallace ’68
- 2017 Mike Scherer ’67
- 2016 Wayne Hergott ’57
- 2015 Fred Senn ’64
- 2014 Jim Platten ’74
- 2014 Canning Fok ’74
- 2013 Jim Frey ’78
- 2012 Bob Gavin ’62
- 2011 Brian Crevoiserat ’81
- 2010 Don Schumacher ’65
- 2009 Bob Spinner ’64
- 2009 Br. Dietrich Reinhart, OSB ’71
- 2008 Dave Wendt ’63
- 2007 Dick Nigon ’70
- 2006 Steve Slaggie ’61
- 2005 Dan Whalen ’70
- 2004 Bob Wicker ’64
- 2003 Al Eisele ’58
- 2002 Dan Coborn ’52
- 2001 Joe Mucha ’66
- 2000 Thom Woodward ’70
- 2000 Bill Sexton ’55
- 1999 Fr. Don LeMay, OSB ’48
- 1998 Len Mrachek ’58
- 1997 Frank Ladner ’48
- 1996 Mike Dady ’71
- 1995 John Agee ’70
- 1994 John Rogers ’63
- 1993 Tom McKeown ’52
- 1992 Cleve Cram ’38
- 1991 Tom Joyce ’61
- 1990 Bob Shafer ’54
- 1989 Fr. Don Talafous, OSB ’48
- 1988 Jerry Donovan ’53
- 1987 George Hawkins ’49
- 1986 Frank Grundman ’48
- 1985 Jack O’Connell ’42
- 1984 LeRoy Lilly ’55
- 1983 Fr. Martin Schirber, OSB ’39
- 1982 Jerry Terhaar ’48
- 1981 Harry Holtz ’39
- 1980 Joe Ryan ’31
- 1979 Fran Miller ’48
- 1978 Paul Huber ’55
- 1977 Ed Devitt ’32
- 1976 Fr. Matthew Kiess, OSB ’21
- 1975 Henry Borgerding ’07
- 1974 Fr. Dunstan Tucker, OSB ’25
- 1973 Herb Adrian ’29
- 1972 George Durenberger ’28
- 1971 Fred Hughes ’31
Alumni Achievement Awards
Launched in 1983, the Alumni Achievement Awards recognize alumni who have been successful in their careers and/or active in church and community service.
The awards are presented annually by the SJU Alumni Association Board of Directors and the university.
Each 20 through 50-year reunion class recognizes an individual classmate for his accomplishments. An awards presentation is part of each class reunion dinner.
- Mark Jantzer ’74
- Wayne Liebhard ’79
- Bernie Sinner ’84
- Brian Kueppers ’89
- Rob Bellin ’94
- Darius Husain ’99
- Brian Eder ’04
Bob Basten Excellence in Leadership Award
Launched in 2009, the award sprung from a conversation among three SJU Class of 1982 friends: Basten, a former Minnesota Viking and business executive who died in 2012 after 10 years with ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease; Joe Kiley, a Johnnie all-American football player; and Rob Culligan, university vice president for institutional advancement. They wanted to salute Johnnie football players who represent the program’s hallmark traits.
The Bob Basten Excellence in Leadership Award is given annually to a former Johnnie football player who in his life as an alumnus has exhibited outstanding leadership traits; Is involved in his community and alma mater; Has a sense of fair play carried beyond the gridiron, and as an overall commitment to excellence
- 2024 Denis McDonough ’92
- 2023 Mark Flynn ’78
- 2022 Mike Zumwinkle ’87
- 2021 Tim Healy ’87
- 2019 Lou Raiola ’82
- 2018 Mike Grant ’79
- 2017 Bob Brigham ’78
- 2016 Denny Schleper ’83
- 2015 Robert Spinner ’64
- 2014 Blake Elliott ’03
- 2013 Jeff Korsmo ’80
- 2012 Ken Roering ’64
- 2011 Neal Binsfeld ’81
- 2010 Joe Mucha ’66
- 2009 Dr. Bob Gavin ’62
The Kevin DeVaan Memorial Award
Kevin DeVaan ’78 lived by the mantra, “it’s about effort and attitude.” DeVaan’s influential work, infectious spirit and exceptional example of service to alma mater set him apart as an Alumni Association Board volunteer until his unexpected passing in 2012.
The Kevin DeVaan Award is presented annually in June to an Alumni Association Board Volunteer whose efforts and attitude inspire others to do more for Saint John’s University.
Alumni Association Board members whose service to alma mater most embodies Kevin’s mantra are selected by the Alumni Association Board Office of the President to receive the award.
- Kevin DeVaan ’78
- Michael Wollmering ’10 (Awarded in 2024)
- Joe Eiden ’10 (Awarded in 2023)
- Paul Gelbmann ’82 (Awarded in 2022)
- Bill Olson ’91 (Awarded in 2021)
- Scott Hennis ’02 (Awarded in 2020)
- David Moe ’94 (Awarded in 2019)
- Rick Speckmann ’72 (Awarded in 2018)
- Joe Housman ’04 (Awarded in 2017)
- Andrew Spaanem ’06 (Awarded in 2016)
- Brian Kelly ’99 (Awarded in 2015)
- Aaron Smith ’92 (Awarded in 2014)
- Dick Howard ’72 (Inaugural recipient in 2013)
The Entreprenuer of the Year Award
The Entrepreneur of the Year Awards celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of alumni from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University and. These awards honor individuals who have successfully started and led businesses while embodying Benedictine values of community, service, and leadership. With categories for both SJU and CSB, as well as a focus on social entrepreneurship, the awards highlight those making a lasting impact in their industries, communities, and alma mater.
- Father Walter Reger Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Alumni Achievement Awards
- Bob Basten Excellence in Leadership Award
- The Kevin DeVaan Memorial Award
- The Entreprenuer of the Year Award
Class Notes
If you have a class note you’d like to submit, please send your update to [email protected].