The Cabrini University Alumni Association recognized the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of alumni in its annual presentation of the Alumni Awards, which was be held during at the inugural Celebration of Cavaliers on February 1, 2019.
Martha Dale Award for Distinguished Service
Lisa Nolan (’87) was been selected to receive the 2019 Martha Dale Award for Distinguished Service, given to alumni who have demonstrated long-standing loyalty, dedication, and support of Cabrini and the Alumni Association.
Lisa’s life after Cabrini has been the epitome of what it means to live with purpose and in the spirit of the Cabrini charism. The summer after she graduated, as part Cabrini’s Project Outreach, which later became known as Cabrini Mission Corps, she lived in Swaziland, Africa. There, she worked with MSCs at St. Philip’s Mission where she taught math and English, and also served as a youth minister.
After this summer, Lisa’s path led her to many meaningful experiences. She went on to receive a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Georgian Court College. She has worked in various fields of Education, Cross-Culture Teaching, Counseling, and has also managed programs for different International Faith-Based Organizations. In particular, in the early 90s she worked alongside Sister Lucille Souza, MSC as the Co-Director of the Cabrini Mission Corps.
Teaching, however, is what Lisa believes is her true calling. She has taught across the world on a Navajo reservation in Arizona, in the British System of Education in Tanzania, and in various school districts in the Mid-Atlantic region. Currently, she serves as a math teacher at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr.
She has shared her experience and knowledge on various Boards and committees throughout the years including Jesuit Volunteers International, Friends Across Boarders, and Missioners of Maryknoll.
Lisa’s loyalty, dedication, and interest in Cabrini’s mission – to educate the heart and better the lives of those around her – makes her truly deserving of this honor.
Cabrini University Young Alumni Award
Diana Trasatti (’10) has been selected to receive the 2019 Cabrini University Young Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who have graduated within the last 10 years and have continued the Cabrinian legacy of service, made outstanding contributions to their communities, or achieved great career success.
While a student at Cabrini, Diana studied English/communications and psychology. As a member of the Loquitur staff, Diana became more aware of the world around her through story assignments that introduced her to various global social injustices. She experienced service learning through spring break service trips, and even lobbied in Congress.
After graduation, Diana continued her education at the University of Pennsylvania where she received her Master of Science in Education in School and Mental Health Counseling and her Master of Philosophy in Education in Professional Counseling. She currently works fulltime as an elementary school counselor in southern New Jersey, where she coaches a track club and will be launching a social justice club for students this spring. She also works as a master’s level mental health clinician at Jefferson Hospital, where she conducts psychosocial assessments and runs group therapy in the intensive outpatient program.
In addition to her work, Diana commits much of her free time volunteering to serve as the state communications lead and national communication trainer for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a nonpartisian, grassroots organization dedicated to ending the gun violence epidemic in America. In these roles, Diana writes media advisories, delivers national spokesperson trainings, organizes community gun violence prevention events, and guides volunteers in writing to local newspapers and elected officials in support of comprehensive solutions to gun violence.
Diana’s dedication to enriching the lives of those around her, through both her professional career and volunteer work, is inspiring.
Cabrini University Honorary Alumni Award
Carol Hect Serotta, Professor Emerita, has been selected to receive 2019 Honorary Alumni Award, which recognizes non-alumni members of the Cabrini community for service to the institution.
Professor Emerita doesn’t even begin to cover all of the titles and hats that Carol has worn since her arrival in January of 1977 as an adjunct math professor. She eventually was hired as full-time faculty with a split designation of Math and Computer Science. As Cabrini expanded its Computer Science Department, she became a full-time Math Professor and Department Chair from 1995-2003.
Her work expanded far beyond the classroom walls as she volunteered her time to countless committees. To name just a few, Carol served on committees for Faculty Development, Academic Grievance, and Master Planning. She has also acted as Advisor of the Math and Science Honor Society and created and managed the Original Math Technology Lab.
One of her most favorite roles she has played at Cabrini is judge for the Mr. and Miss Cabrini Pageant. She has been a judge every year, except one, over the last fifteen years.
Carol has been recognized in various Who’s Who Publications and is a recipient of the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award.
While Carol retired four years ago, she is still a regular on campus as a tutor in the Math Resource Center and Chairs the monthly “Retirees Lunch Meetings” in Cavs Corner.
Students, alumni, faculty and staff unanimously love Carol. Bob McGee, former Cabrini Math Department Chair, hired Carol in 1977. He saw first-hand the impact Carol had on the student body. He said “Going into the cafeteria with Carol was an adventure. We would go in together but I would be eating dessert before she sat down because she was always interacting with students. Her support of their activities whether plays, sporting events, or whatever event that someone invited you to, was legendary.”
At the heart of Cabrini, and what makes it so special, is our faculty. Without a doubt, Carol symbolizes what a fiercely dedicated faculty member, even in her retirement, looks like at Cabrini.
Distinguished Achievement Award
Joe Holden (’02), has been selected to receive the 2019 Distinguished Achievement Award, which recognizes the exemplary achievements of alumni whose career successes embody Cabrini’s mission of leadership development and commitment to social justice and academic excellence.
Joe is the anchor of the weekend evening editions of Eyewitness News on CBS 3 and The CW Philly. But, before Joe became a local celebrity, he was simply a Delaware County kid. Joe attended St. Laurence Parochial School in Upper Darby and Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill. He spent his teenage years as a choir director and organist at St. Donato Parish in Overbrook and later, director of music at St. Charles Borromeo in Drexel Hill. Joe’s love of music helped pay his way through college.
During his Cabrini days, he could be found in in Cabrini’s newsroom in the Comm Wing where he was editor in chief of The Loquitur. Dr. Jerry Zurek, former Chair and professor of Communication, is still in touch with Joe 16 years later. He follows him closely in the news, and on social media.
In a Facebook Post in which Joe candidly spoke about the fact that he didn’t get into local news for the glamour, but rather, to help people. Dr. Zurek responded to the comment, “Thank you, Joe, to you and other dedicated journalists who every day provide the information our democracy needs.” Zurek noted that even as a college reporter and Loquitur editor, Joe was incredibly dedicated to give an accurate picture of the Cabrini community as editor in chief. Over the years, Joe has returned to Cabrini to mentor students and speak in class. When he meets Cabrini students on or off campus, he gives them both journalism tips as well as life coaching. His work provides a great example of the high calling and responsibility journalists are called to.
His impressive career in the news industry includes his previous roles as the weekend evening anchor at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, where he covered, among other high-profile stories, Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia. He was also an investigative reporter in Scranton, Charlottesville, Virginia and an assignment editor in Philadelphia.
Joe has a track record of holding public officials accountable and breaking numerous stories involving political corruption and environmental issues, including stories connected to the reputed Kids for Cash scandal in Luzerne County and how public boards handled the rise of the Marcellus Shale industry in Susquehanna and Bradford counties. His work exposed the existence of a cancer cluster in Schuylkill County.
He has twice been nominated for an Emmy!
Today, Joe’s exciting career has allowed him to come home, where he and his wife, Kelly live in Newtown Square with their three children.
Cabrini is proud to not only share the outstanding achievements of a successful alum like Joe, but also to recognize him with this deserving accolade.
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Award for Community Service
Sheila Ross Breen (’69), has been selected to receive the 2019 Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Award for Community Service, which recognizes alumni for their extraordinary volunteer service to the external community. Sheila will be recognized at her Class of 1969 50th Reunion in September.
Cabrini University Parent Award
Ronald Katkocin, Esq. ('80) and Rosemarie Battiato Katkocin ('84), have been selected to receive the 2019 Cabrini University Parent Award, which recognizes deserving parent(s) or guardian(s) of a current student or alumna/us who lives with purpose in the Cabrinian spirit. The award honors those who have contributed time, talent and treasure through a commitment to advance the mission of the University and to future generations of Cabrini University students.
Ron and Rose are parents of Camilia Katkocin, Class of 2020. While Camilia’s journey to Cabrini started three years ago, Ron and Rose were introduced to Cabrini long before that.
The two are both proud alums—Ron, Class of 1980, and Rose, Class of 1984. In their own right, they were active students and have become exemplary alumni of Cabrini.
Ron attended Cabrini first. He studied English and communication, and was involved as editor in chief of the Loquitur, President of the Sophomore Class, Campus DJ, a Resident Assistant and Director, and so much more.
Then came Rose. She studied Biology and was also very involved in Community Outreach Projects, Biology Club, Campus Ministry, and a self-proclaimed cook-extraordinaire for House 1.
These two actively involved students graduated into successful and dedicated alumni, serving as Alumni Board Members in the late ’80s. It was at an Alumni Board meeting where the two first met. Shortly thereafter, Ron asked Rose on a first date, which happened to be to a Cabrini Gala. Eventually Ron proposed to Rose, on Cabrini’s campus, and today they are married with three wonderful children—Michael, Camilia, and Christina.
Their affinity for Cabrini has continued to grow stronger over the years. Ron has been an adjunct instructor in Business Law since 1993, and is a former Trustee of the Board. He is the sole practitioner at Katkocin Law Firm in Medford, New Jersey.
Rose has been a loyal employee of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital for 25 years, where she currently serves as Vice President for Outpatient Development and Programs.
Ron and Rose are leaders in philanthropy at Cabrini. They are annual donors and care deeply about helping to provide students with a Catholic Cabrinian education. In addition to their annual commitment, they are the facilitators of the endowed Thelma Gardinier Arts Scholarship, awarded annually to students in the Fine Arts Department.
As Cabrini parents, they are champions for Camilia’s accomplishments and activities. When asked about her mom and dad, Camilia says, “My parents always talk about why they love Cabrini. They rave about how there are so many opportunities to get involved and that the small community helps you make great connections and friendships that last a lifetime.”
The Katkocins regularly attend all of Camilia’s honor society inductions, as well as Mass when she is singing in our Campus Ministry choir. One of her favorite memories at Cabrini is of her parents celebrating her birthday by cooking dinner for all the residents of House 3. Rose’s cook-extraordinaire skills from her resident days have again come into play!
Cabrini University is proud to recognize Ron and Rose, who are wonderful alumni, parents, and supporters of our fine institution.