Lasallian Service Award

This award honors an alum for outstanding contributions to the Lasallian spirit and values. This award recognizes individuals who better their professions and communities, those who truly make a difference in our world. Previously this award was named the Religious Service Award.

2024 Recipient: Thomas J. Evon B'76

Thomas Evon B’76 is a product of an all-Catholic school education, having attended St Giles Elementary and Fenwick High School, both in Oak Park, Ill., before coming to Saint Mary’s to major in Business Administration. With the help of his two brothers, he took over a small family packaging business and continued to build it over the years. In addition to his work, Evon has continued to give back to the Church and the Catholic Schools who helped to shape him.

He’s been an active member at Church of the Holy Spirit in Schaumburg, Ill. His most meaningful role was serving as chairman of the annual Family Fest, a five-day carnival, with food and music, for over 30 years. It was the largest fundraiser for the parish, but more importantly, it was a wonderful bonding event for his faith community. He also is currently involved with Help Hope Live; Fenwick High School; San Marco Church, Marco Island, Fla.; St. Matthew’s House, Naples, Fla.; and St. Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Barrington, Ill., as well as Saint Mary’s. Many of his closest friends today are from his three schools — with ties all the way back to kindergarten. He’s a loving husband to Monica (Herriges) Evon B’77; father to Kate, Paul ’03 and Mary; and grandfather of eight. He brings his faith and Lasallian sense of service to every day of his life.

Eligibility:

This award honors a degreed alumnus/a of SMUMN for their outstanding contributions to the Lasallian spirit and values. This award recognizes individuals who better their professions and communities and those who truly make a difference in our world. Nominate your Lasallian Service Award nominee here.

The awardee must have achieved the following:

Led a faithful life.
Dedicated life to service.
Impacted the community through their work.
Transformed their community and the lives around them through leadership and service.

Past Recipients:

Most Rev. Robert Brom B'60 – 1985	Most Rev. Frederick Freking, DD '34 – 1985	Most Rev. George Speltz, DD B'32 – 1985
Most Rev. Alfred Stemper '34 – 1985	Br. Alphonsus Pluth, FSC B'39 – 1986	Ronald Wilkins B'39 – 1986
Br. Julius Winkler, FSC B'36 – 1986	Rev. Daniel Corcoran '37 – 1987	Br. Leonard Courtney, Ph.D., FSC B'37 – 1987
Msgr. J. Richard Feiten '45 - 1988	Br. Theodore Drahmann, FSC B'49 – 1989	Br. James Gaffney, FSC B'64 – 1989
Br. John Grover, FSC B'65 – 1990	Br. I. Ambrose Trusk, FSC B'43 – 1990	Rev. James Barnett '60 – 1991
Br. James Miller, FSC B'66, M'74 – 1991	Rev. James Russell B'56 – 1991	Fr. Andrew C. Fabian, OP – 1992
Br. I. Basil Rothweiler, FSC B'38 – 1993	Br. Terence McLaughlin, FSC B'44 – 1994	Br. Martin Spellman, FSC B'54 – 1994
Br. Richard Gerlach, FSC B'35 – 1995	Br. George Pahl, FSC B'36 – 1996	Br. Raymond Long, FSC '43 – 1996
Rev. Paul Nelson B'57 – 1997	Dennis L. Nigon '68 – 1998	Fr. Kenneth Thesing, MM '64 – 1999
Br. J. Francis Walsh, FSC, B'45 – 2000	Br. Gordon Hannon, FSC B'86 – 2001	Br. Norman Wray, FSC B'46 – 2001
Fr. Paul R. Wierichs, CP B‘74 – 2002	Rev. Robert Botthof, OP B'50 – 2003	Stephen Judd B'53 – 2004
Br. Dominic Ehrmantraut, FSC B'67 – 2005	Br. Louis Rodemann, FSC B'61 – 2006	Br. Paul Grass, FSC B'57, M'62 – 2007
Hugh Downey '62 – 2008	Msgr. Roy E. Literski '49 – 2009	Christine (Coglianese) Collins B'93 – 2010
James Cunningham '49 – 2010	James B'91 & Molly (Crosby) B'91 Cave – 2011	Mary Lou (Black) Scheid B’76 – 2011
Barbara (Mulvey) McQuillan B’76 – 2016	Giles Wilborn B'61, M'66 - 2017	Sarah (Bellingham) Laitinen B'07 - 2018
Al Peters B'74 - 2019	Dr. Susan (Orlowski) Paul Caulfield B'80 - 2021	Jennifer (Lawrence) Nelson B'04 - 2021
Sarah Jane (Engle) Maher B'07 - 2022	James P. Izzo B'75 - 2023	Thomas Evon B'76 - 2024