2023 Community Awards Recipients Announced

Bishop Cretin Award

This award is presented annually to a distinguished Cretin alum in recognition of his outstanding service to the community and to Cretin-Derham Hall, and for his achievements in his profession exemplifying the highest and best traditions of Cretin High School. This award is presented in memory of the school's founder Bishop Joseph Cretin, the first Bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Mike Salmen ‘83

Mike Salmen ‘83 is among the most recognized and revered leaders in the Twin Cities’ real estate community. He played an integral role in bringing Transwestern to the Twin Cities marketplace and building it into one of the region’s premier commercial real estate firms.   

Many of Mike’s core values were lessons learned from his parents, Tom and Ione, whom he calls “the best people he’s ever had the opportunity to meet.”  The Salmen family created the Thomas ‘35 and Ione Salmen Memorial Scholarship to continue the values instilled in them.

St. DeLaSalle Award

Presented annually in honor of the Christian Brothers to a distinguished alum in recognition of his outstanding service to his community and to Cretin and Cretin-Derham Hall. This award recognizes achievements in ministry exemplifying the highest and best traditions of Cretin High School.

Gene Scapanski, STD ‘60
Gene was involved in education and church ministry throughout his career and he was the founder and director of the University of St. Thomas Graduate Programs in Pastoral Studies.  After years working and teaching in the graduate programs, he served as the first Vice President for Mission at the University of St. Thomas.  Gene served on many charitable boards after his retirement in 2008, including Chairman of the Board for The Link, an organization working with youth and families to overcome the impact of poverty and social injustice.

Carondelet Award

This award is presented annually to a distinguished woman who is reflective of the charisms of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Derham Hall.  Women who receive this award have attained eminence in their particular field of endeavor.

Jean Whaley, ScD ‘76

Jean is a scientific leader in drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry with twenty-one years at Bristol Myers Squibb and later at Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson and Johnson.  Most notably, Jean led the discovery efforts in the SGLT2 area, benefiting patients with diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Jean’s leadership in this area, and the discovery of Farxiga®, has directly benefited millions of patients.  She is the co-author of thirty-six peer reviewed publications and holds three patents. Jean retired in 2018, and continues to work as a consultant in life sciences.

Hugh Derham Award

This award is presented annually to a distinguished woman who is reflective of the charisms of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Derham Hall. Women who receive this award have exemplified Derham Hall's ideals of excellence, service, and love of the dear neighbor.

Anne Bisanz Hannahan

Anne is a retired psychologist and registered nurse with more than forty years of experience.  She is also a Consociate with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.  Anne served as the Executive Director of the HealthEast Healing Center as well as the Director of Oncology Therapy, where she developed one of the first psychosocial oncology programs to enable cancer patients and their families to attain psychotherapy free of charge.  Anne co-founded Growing Community Roots, a nonprofit volunteer organization to raise funds for safe water and sanitation in Kenya.

Eugene and Mary Frey Community Award

Instituted in 1999 in recognition of the tremendous commitment Eugene ‘48 and Mary Frost Frey ‘52 have demonstrated to Cretin-Derham Hall and the larger community, this award is presented to individuals who reflect the mission and values of Cretin-Derham Hall through deep connection and involvement with Cretin-Derham Hall and other community interests.

John & Connie McMahon

As a math teacher at Cretin-Derham Hall, Connie’s teaching career spanned twenty-nine years.  She valued the distinctive sense of community at CDH and she taught many siblings, and several parent-child sets throughout her career, which allowed her to experience the multi-generational families connected to CDH.  John and Connie participated in many activities related to the CDH community, including coaching various athletic and co-curricular teams.  Beyond their impact at CDH, they served the community in many ways, especially through John’s work with the Archdiocese and the Aim Higher Foundation as well as the Jeremiah Program, a nonprofit organization that offers one of the nation’s most successful strategies to help families transform from poverty to prosperity.

Monsignor Ambrose Hayden Legacy Award

This award recognizes individuals whose spirit and energy reflect an understanding of the need to preserve the past and provide for future generations.  Recipients exemplify the charisms of the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet.

Jane Richards

Jane Richards began a lifelong connection to CDH when she married her late husband, Gene, a 1948 graduate of Cretin High School.  All eight of their children and their four grandchildren attended Derham Hall, Cretin, and Cretin-Derham Hall.  Jane gave back to the community as a volunteer at St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Guild of Catholic Women, Habitat for Humanity, Dorothy Day, Meals on Wheels, and Loaves and Fishes.  The spirit of service was a shared quality with her husband, who created the Asa Di fund at CDH to provide scholarships to students of American Indian heritage.

Signum Fidei Award

The Signum Fidei symbolizes ‘Rising Star’ and this award is presented annually to one or more individuals who reflect the ideals of the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet. This award recognizes the recipient’s outstanding eminence in their particular field of endeavor and their outstanding service in the community.

Carolyn Dienhart ‘08

Carolyn studied Psychology and Business Administration at the University of St. Thomas and earned a doctorate in Psychology at the University of Minnesota.  As a Principal Consultant at Korn Ferry in Minneapolis, a global organization consulting firm, Carolyn helps clients by coaching leaders, advising companies on hiring decisions, and helping companies build better environments for their people. She volunteers on the advocacy committee for A Mile in My Shoes, an organization that promotes individuals supporting one another and running alongside one another.

Shady Salamon ‘08

Shady attended the University of Minnesota as a Business and Marketing Major at the Carlson School of Management; he also earned a football scholarship to play for the Gophers and received recognition as a member of the Big Ten All-Academic Team.  After graduation, Shady moved to Chicago to continue his career with Stryker, a medical technology company, specializing in the Foot and Ankle division.  After ten years of experience in orthopedic surgery and expertise with medical devices, Shady cites the gratification of knowing he is helping people get better with the service he provides in the operating room as his favorite aspect of his work. 

The foundation of service and volunteerism he experienced as a student at CDH translated into his professional life when Shady traveled to Liberia on a medical mission to provide essential surgeries to people in need.

Richard R. Engler Lifetime Achievement Award

The Richard R. Engler Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to one recipient to honor a lifetime of exemplary service and dedication to Cretin-Derham Hall and the broader CDH community.  This award is presented in recognition of the long history of service by Dick Engler, the President of Cretin-Derham Hall between 1990 and 2015, whose commitment and hard work impacted generations of CDH families.

Lt. Col. James Anthony “Jacques” Michienzi ’43

As a veteran of three wars - World War II, Korea, and Vietnam - Lieutenant Colonel James Anthony “Jacques” Michienzi has earned dozens of prestigious awards throughout his decades of military service. Quite possibly, he is the most decorated veteran alive today. For the last fifty years, Michienzi has been devoted to ensuring his fellow veterans receive the recognition they deserve, writing commendations and speaking at Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day events. In 2019, he traveled to Normandy, France in honor of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

Honorary Alumni Award

This award is presented annually to a person who has shown dedication and commitment to serve the Cretin-Derham Hall community.

Frank Miley

For fifteen years of dedicated service and leadership to the Cretin-Derham Hall community, Frank Miley applied CDH values to his actions and efforts to build relationships with students, alumni, friends, and donors.  His commitment to Catholic identity, strategic excellence, financial stability, and campus improvements is evident in every aspect of the Cretin-Derham Hall experience.  

Thank you for your commitment to advance the mission and provide a strong foundation for the future of Cretin-Derham Hall.