April 10, 2017
Celebrate La Roche! to Honor Distinguished Alumni
PITTSBURGH, April 6, 2017 – La Roche University will welcome 16 accomplished graduates into its Distinguished Alumni Circle at the annual Celebrate La Roche! event on Friday, April 21.
Celebrate La Roche! is a special evening showcasing the University’s many contributions to the community, the Pittsburgh area and the world. The event will be held at the Grand Hall of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in McCandless Township, beginning with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Paul Martino, news anchor and reporter for KDKA-TV News, will serve as master of ceremonies.
The Distinguished Alumni Circle honors La Roche graduates whose outstanding professional achievements and community service projects exemplify the fundamental values of the University’s mission. After receiving nominations from alumni, parents, friends and other members of the University community in the fall of 2016, a committee comprised of a diverse cross-section of La Roche constituents selected the following alumni as recipients:
Melissa Blythe Altman ’02 of North Huntingdon, Pa.
Lay Missioner in El Salvador
Maryknoll Lay Missioners
Miguel Ntutumu Evuna Andeme ’03 of Equatorial Guinea
Ambassador
Embassy of Equatorial Guinea
William F. Gruber ’83 of Gibsonia, Pa.
President
Broker’s Settlement Services Inc.
Nicholas J. Haller, MSN ’98 of Allison Park, Pa.
Associate Chief Nurse, Long-Term Care
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Rufus Idris ’11 of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Advisor to the Governor on MSME Development and Wealth Creation
Government of the State of Osun, Nigeria
Rijad Konjhodzic ’98, Ph.D. of Croatia
Chief of Operations
Alea Genetic Center
Driton Lajci ’03, M.S. ’05 of Prishtine, Kosovo
Advisor to Speaker of Parliament
Kosovo Parliament
Theresa Orlando ’78, M.S. Ed. of Allison Park, Pa.
Executive Director (Retired)
Miryam Shelter
Patricia C. Phillips ’93 of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Level III Surgical Nurse (Retired)
UPMC Shadyside Hospital
Sokhom S. Pin ’92, Ph.D. of Lunenburg, Mass.
Head of In-Vitro Neuropharmacology
Alkermes Inc.
Troy Rabenstein ’91 of Danville, Calif.
Senior Vice President, Audit Director
Bank of the West
Jean-Claude M. Rwigema ’05, M.D. of Philadelphia, Pa.
Senior Associate Consultant
& Assistant Professor
Department of Radiation Oncology Mayo Clinic
Timothy J. Shapiro ’06, DNAP of Tarentum, Pa.
Nurse Anesthetist
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Scott Sieg ’87, Ph.D. of Cleveland, Ohio
Associate Professor of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
Thomas (Tip) Solomon, M.S. ’85 of Southlake, Texas
President
Solomon Sourcing Solutions, LLC
Gregory Weimerskirch ’90, MFA of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Motion-Picture Art Director & Production Designer
Cost of admission for Celebrate La Roche! is $175 per person. La Roche alumni receive discounted admission at $140 per person. Register online for the event.
There are corporate sponsorship opportunities at every level for organizations and individuals who are interested in supporting or attending Celebrate La Roche!. For more information contact Associate Vice President and Director of Development Janet Dennis at 412-536-1092 or janet.dennis@laroche.edu.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, six graduate degree programs and one doctoral program, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential college provides a vibrant campus community for more than 1,500 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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