Alumni of the Year
Established 23 years ago, the Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award has recognized outstanding alumni, and their commitment to the goals and objectives of Bishop McGuinness. It highlights the importance of what it means to be a person for others through their actions not only in the Irish community, but also in their community and church.
You may nominate as many outstanding alumni as you wish. We just ask that the nominees have served the school, their church and/or community well during their postgraduate time. The 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented in May during graduation. If you have any questions about nominations, please email Michele Goldsworthy Aguilera '80, alumni coordinator.
Mr. Peter McConnell '94 has been selected as the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. He was recognized during the graduation ceremony on May 17.
“Positive, Dedicated and a friend to all are words that describe our Alumni of the year,” said Alexa Lienhard, Bishop McGuinness Alumni Executive Committee President. “Peter McConnell's attitude about life is contagious, always striving to find the good”
Peter McConnell is a dedicated father and husband to his family. And is dedicated to the students of McGuinness, whom he has taught many religion classes, attended many KAIROS retreats and been a part of the baseball coaching staff. A friend to all – many of his students often feel as if they are his favorite because of his ability to make them feel heard, respected and maybe because of his jokes. It doesn’t happen often that an alumni of the year is also a teacher at our school, but when it happens it proves the foundation laid here on how to live McGuinness’ mission: “to be a person for others” is strong and true. Our Alumni of the Year has done that and much more.
Award Recipients
1999 Fr. William M. Eichhoff ’56
1999 Larry Shaw ’55
2000 Linda Cavanaugh Clark ’69
2001 Greg Burns ’65
2002 Dr. Louis V. Lepak, Jr. ’61
2002 Dr. William H. Bernauer ’65
2003 William R. Cathey ’76
2004 Judy McCarthy Love ’55
2005 Michael J. Milligan ’73
2006 Jerry Kelley ’70
2007 Tom Ward ’65
2008 Rear Admiral Greg Slavonic ’67, U.S. Navy
2009 Dr. J. Peter Kierl ’72
2010 James A. Connelly, Jr. ’73
2010 Jack O’Meara ’66
2011 Lil Ross ’56
2012 Fr. Joseph Uhen ’76
2013 David Riesenberg ’75
2014 Carol Scanlon Lester ’74
2015 Richard Tuohy ’69
2016 Chris Engel ’78
2017 Greg Love ’80
2018 Amy Feighny ’86
2019 Ryan Maxwell ’98
2020 Bentley Edmonds ’81
2020 Lisa Ruffin Edmonds ’82
2021 Dr. David Chansolme ’89
2022 Peter McConnell '94