Read about this year's McMullen Award winners:
Joe '72 & Joyce O'Rourke
Joe '72 and Joyce O'Rourke are generous supporters of St. Ambrose University and have truly enriched the lives of St. Ambrose students.
Joe has been an active and dedicated member of the university Board of Trustees for many years, and the O'Rourkes have provided leadership gifts for numerous capital campaigns while faithfully supporting the Ambrose Annual Fund.
Jim's Place stands as the most powerful example of the O'Rourke family's commitment to enriching St. Ambrose and the community. In conjunction with his mother, his brothers and their families, Joe and Joyce support this assistive technology showcase home that allows students and persons with disabilities hands-on experience with life-enhancing technological solutions. The home was named in honor of Joe's late brother, Jim O'Rourke, who became disabled due to an accident.
Joe and Joyce support many other charitable causes in the community, and continue to live the Ambrosian mission of enriching the lives of others.
John '58 & Helen '57 Morrissey
Among the most scenic locations in the Quad Cities, the St. Ambrose campus melds historic and meticulously maintained buildings with colorful, well-groomed landscaping. It is a setting that attracts students and their families upon first look, and which provides lasting memories for alumni.
That beauty is a direct reflection of the pride John Morrissey Jr. '58 had in his job at St. Ambrose. He followed in his father's footsteps as director of the university's physical plant; meeting the challenges of maintaining a widespread and well-kept campus was a longstanding source of family pride. John was a valued participant in launching the physical growth of the campus that began with the townhouses in 1990, and now includes a community of residence halls that rank among the best in the United States.
The impact of the Morrissey family goes beyond the physical surroundings of campus. With his wife, Helen, a graduate of the Mercy nursing program, John has supported the university's capital campaigns, scholarship programs, annual fund drives, and planned giving program.
The Morrissey family legacy will remain a cherished piece of our St. Ambrose history for years to come.
Previous award recipients:
2006 - Donald '51, MD, and Mary Jo Heming, William '49, MD, and Eda '81 Hofmann, Leo Kilfoy '51, PhD, I. Weir and Pat Sears, Joseph Walton '50, Rev. Edward Catich '34, '77 (Hon.) (posthumously)
2007 - Jane Folwell '01 (Hon.), Robert "Bob" Kelly '57, Rev. George McDaniel, PhD, '86, Rev. Msgr. Marvin Mottet `52 and Walter Neiswanger `48 (posthumously)
2008 - Don and Jerri Moeller and James `59 and Elaine Malay
2010 - James `56 and Mary Hagen, Ray `53 and Jill McLaughlin and the Most Rev William Franklin
2011 - Rev. William Dawson `50, Rev. Edmund Dunn `58 and Dimitri and Kathy `94 Papageorgiou
2012 - John and Patricia Bush and Richard Geiger
2013 - Edward '64 and Lynne (posthumously) Henkhaus and Mary Joy Allert Feeney
Education Together
We are pleased to announce that St. Ambrose University has signed a new joint agreement with Mount Mercy University as we explore a potential strategic combination. We celebrate this exciting news not only for each of our universities and our communities, but also for the region.
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