The Elizabeth P. Hoisington ’40 Distinguished Alumna Award is presented to a graduate who, through achievements in career and/or community service, embodies the principles of Notre Dame.

Winners, who have graduated no fewer than five years ago, have demonstrated loyalty to the University and achievements in career and or community.

Nominate An Alum For This Award

History

After her death in 2007, the award was dedicated to Brig. Gen. Elizabeth P. Hoisington ’40, who served our nation with leadership and vision—particularly as one of the first women to attain the rank of U.S. Army general. The 2008 award was the first given under the new name.

2023 Award Winner

Sister Kathleen Feeley and President Marylou Yam

Kathleen Feeley, SSND '50

Sister Kathleen Feeley served as President of the then-College of Notre Dame of Maryland from 1971 to 1992. During her tenure, the Loyola/Notre Dame Library opened, and Notre Dame reaffirmed its mission as a Catholic College for Women. In her early religious life, Sister Kathleen taught first grade in South Carolina, third and fourth grade together in Bel Air, MD, and seventh and eighth grade together in Riviera Beach, MD.

Following exciting years of teaching English at Notre Dame of Maryland High School, she was part of the moving crew when the school moved from Charles St. to Hampton Lane and became Notre Dame Prep (NDP). She taught on the new campus until she returned to CNDM to teach English to college students.

After her presidency, Sister Kathleen went abroad for several years and taught literature in India, Australia, China, Japan and Ghana. After returning to NDMU, she taught graduate courses in English, and is now teaching in the Renaissance Institute.

Past Winners
Year Winner
1991 Patricia Ann Denny Bathon ’49
1992 Veronica Walker Hackett ’67
1993 Mildred Buzek Otenasek ’36, Ph.D. 
1994 Margaret Dempsey McManus ’41
1995 School Sisters of Notre Dame
1996 Margaret Dougherty ’41
1997 Dorothy Brown, Ph.D. ’54
1998 Donna Ringger Easton ’70
1999 Suzanne Janes Peck ’64
2000 Alice El Koury ’39
2001 Margaret J. Steinhagen’54, Ph.D.
2002 Anne Bruggy Deming ’61, Ph.D.
2003 Mary Lu Schroeder McNeal ’50
2004 Regina McKeowne Hubbard ’43
2005 Candee Morici Swenson ’69, Ph.D.
2006 Dr. Doris Ann Trauner ’66, M.D.
2007 Kathleen Carney Buetow ’50, Ph.D.
2008 Dolores Warwick Frese ’58, Ph.D.
2009 Jo Trueschler '49
2010 Edith McParland Donohue '60
2011 Patricia Knott Smyth '51
2012 Kathleen O'Ferrall Friedman '62
2013 Margaret Haskell Farnham '92
2014 Mary Kay Shartle Galotto '64, Ph.D.
2015 Frances Hanna Flanigan '65
The Hon. Irene Murphy Keeley '65
2016 The Hon. Audrey J.S. Carrion '81
2017 Christina Bolmarcich, Esq. '97
2018 Joan B. Davidson '93
2019

Victoria M. Genco Bell '69
Julie Courtney Ben-Susan '69
Andrea R. Bowden, Ph.D. '69
Cathryn Archibald Curia, CPCU '69
Mary Ellen Vanni '69
2020 Mary Beth Lennon '89
2021 Grace Solimando Zaczek ’70
2022 La Vida D. Cooper '03
2023 Kathleen Feeley, SSND '50