Alumni Awards

Distinguished Service Award

Dr. Elizabeth Schlenk '75 | 2025 Award Recipient

Dr. Elizabeth Schlenk’s impact on health care is evident in her academic research and the future nurses she has inspired in the classroom.

For the past four years, Dr. Schlenk has served as Associate Dean for Graduate Clinical Education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. She graduated from Mount Mercy with a nursing degree in 1975 and then worked as a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids before earning her master’s degree at the University of Iowa College of Nursing. She then returned to Mount Mercy to teach nursing for five years before enrolling at the University of Michigan School of Nursing to obtain her PhD. Her dissertation focused on improving the quality of life for patients self-managing a chronic disorder. Older adults have been the focus in several of Dr. Schlenk’s studies, finding ways to enhance their health through lifestyle changes and the adherence to treatment programs.

Upon receiving her PhD, she became a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, beginning a distinguished 30-year run at that school. In 2017, she was awarded their Faculty Leadership Award.

Dr. Schlenk is retiring in the summer of 2025 with emeritus faculty status, but will continue working on a part-time basis until June 2026 to complete an educational project.

Professional Achievement Award

Stephanie (Francois) Miller '02 | 2025 Award Recipient

Stephanie Miller has been advocating for students for more than two decades, as illustrated by her devotion to coaching and commitment to helping students with special needs. She graduated with an education degree from Mount Mercy in 2002. 

When Stephanie was young, her brother was diagnosed with developmental delays, inspiring her to become a teacher and help students with similar challenges. Not long after graduating from Mount Mercy, she accepted a position in the Vinton-Shellsburg school district as a special education teacher with a focus on elementary-aged students. Today, her title is Special Education Facilitator with the school district, where she oversees special education for the district, and still occasionally fills in to work directly with students. 

Stephanie was a two-sport athlete at Mount Mercy in track and volleyball and is now in her 19th year coaching track, which has included nine years at Mount Mercy, eight years coaching middle school boys, and now two years coaching varsity girls at Vinton-Shellsburg.   

In addition to her work, Stephanie has added to her academic accomplishments by earning a master’s degree in special education and teaching from Morningside College. 

Misericordiae Award

Mary (Kayser) Thornton ’70 | 2025 Award Recipient

Mary Thornton is retired and volunteers her time as the founder and Chief Operating Officer of The Giving Porch, a charity that raises awareness for local nonprofits and organizes assistance with delivery of local resources and donations, which she manages from her hometown of Fort Mill, South Carolina.   

Mary graduated from Mount Mercy with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1970, but her journey that followed focused on service to others. Her husband, Patrick, was a U.S. Military Academy graduate, which meant numerous moves due to military assignments—Mary counts 22 different addresses. Along the way, Mary shared her time and talents to help those in need. For instance, in New Jersey, she served as a literacy volunteer and an Educational Surrogate Parent for children who were wards of the State. She taught preschool for two years in Virginia. She spent five years managing a shared reading program in 15 schools, while fundraising to provide new books to build home libraries for those children. She once held a position in which she represented nonprofits to recruit, interview, and place volunteers with those nonprofits. 

Shortly after retiring and moving to Fort Mill in 2010, Mary launched The Giving Porch, which is still going strong, connecting area nonprofits with needed resources. Mary’s tagline is “Don’t let your inability to do everything prevent you from doing something.”

Merit Award

Jennifer (Dobrochowski) Vaughan ’15 | 2025 Award Recipient 

Since graduating from Mount Mercy University, Jennifer Vaughan has furthered her career, advanced her education, and donated her time to help young people find their own path.  

After earning her Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Mount Mercy, the Cedar Rapids native moved to Denver, Colo., to explore opportunities in new surroundings. Not long afterward, she began her career with Liberty Energy, an oil and gas company, where she has worked for the past eight years. Her hard work did not go unnoticed, and she eventually worked her way into her current role as Regional Administrative Development Manager, overseeing six offices in the U.S. and Canada. Even as she has advanced through Liberty Energy, Jennifer has added to her academic accomplishments. She earned a master’s degree in International Business & Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University Global and is on track to earn a doctorate in Business Administration & Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University in 2026. 

In addition to her work, Jennifer is also committed to service, volunteering with Junior Achievement and DECA, where she mentors high school students and prepares the next generation of leaders.