John Carroll University today announced five recipients of its prestigious Alumni Medal including:
- Donald Brown ’70, is founding partner and now of counsel with the law firm Donohue, Brown, Mathewson, and Smythe in Chicago;
- Mary Lynn Crowley-Laughlin ’74, co-founder of Lakepoint Investment Advisors;
- James Doran ’55, retired executive at Heublein;
- Timothy Donahue ’71, former executive chairman of Sprint Nextel;
- Dominique Moceanu ’09, a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. women’s gymnastics team in 1996.
The
Alumni Medal is the highest award given annually by the John Carroll University Alumni Association. It recognizes an individual’s accomplishments in their profession, contributions to their community, exemplary family and personal life, and dedicated service to John Carroll University post-graduation. John Carroll University also named
Jason Therrien ’01, founder and president of thunder::tech, as the 2019 Young Alumni Award recipient, and
Kyle Reynolds ’99, private banker at Huntington Wealth Advisors, as the Rev. William M. Bichl, S.J. Alumni Volunteer Service Award recipient for his service to the JCU Alumni Association.
Matt Holtz ’80 was also awarded the Silver Quill Award, for his contributions to the Onward Alumni Magazine. About the five 2019 Alumni Medal Recipients:
Donald Brown ’70 is founding partner and now of counsel with the law firm Donohue, Brown, Mathewson, and Smythe in Chicago. Across the last five decades, he has served on the board of directors for the Loyola Law School of Chicago, Sheil Chapel at Northwestern University, St. Nicholas Holy Name Society and Catholic Charities. Don’s connection to John Carroll runs deep exemplified by his involvement with the Alumni-in-Admissions program, John Carroll University Alumni Club of Chicago Scholarship Committee, mentorship with students from Chicago playing football at John Carroll and serving as the first chair of the JCU Chicago Alumni Chapter. In 2017 and 2018, Best Lawyers named him the Illinois Lawyer of the Year for Legal Malpractice Law. His wife, Donna, is a member of the John Carroll University Class of 1972.
Mary Lynn Crowley-Laughlin ’74 is a business leader, community volunteer, wife, mother, and grandmother recognized as a consummate “Woman of Carroll” by her peers. She is the co-founder of Lakepoint Investment Advisors and now serves as Senior Investment Officer at Northern Trust after the company merger/acquisition. Mary Lynn has given selflessly to John Carroll as a Magis Society and Entrepreneurs Association member. She has volunteered her time as a board member of the Cleveland Zoological Society, Visiting Nurses Association of Cleveland, AAA of Ohio and East Central, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, Playhouse Square Foundation, the Cleveland Automobile Club Orphan’s Fund, and served as the first woman president of the Union Club where she continues to serve as a member of the Foundation Board. Her husband, Gary, is a member of the John Carroll University Class of 1974.
James Doran ’55 is the retired Senior VP of Finance at Heublein, leader in his community, father, and dedicated alumni and donor. He exemplifies the Jesuit tradition in giving of his time to the American Heart Association, Julie Education Center (high school degrees for single mothers), McCauley Seniors Retirement Community, and the Seniors Job Bank. In honor of the mentors James had during his time as a student, he established thriving programs on campus including The Doran Student Investment Fund (which became an accredited course involving the management of real money), The Doran Student Venture Fund, The C.J. Cooney and the Dr. Arthur J. Noetzel Internship in the business office, and The Doran/Namm Restricted Operating Scholarship.
Timothy Donahue ’71 is the retired executive chairman of Sprint Nextel and a former member of the University’s board of directors. Over his career, the former English major strengthened Nextel to the number one position in the US wireless market and oversaw the transition from a transmission voice message service to a state-of-the-art broadband data service. Tim donated wireless service to John Carroll University and was a major donor in the construction of the Dolan Center for Science and Technology, where he named the Donahue Auditorium. He also funds need-based scholarships for deserving JCU undergraduate students. He is recognized by his peers as a model refection of the principles of John Carroll through his humility, kindness, and natural ability to make personal connections.
Dominique Moceanu ’09 is a business owner, author, mother, and former gymnast who won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. As part of her quest for truth and justice on the topic of abuse in gymnastics and youth sports, in March 2017 she testified at the United States Senate Judiciary Hearing to help pass The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act which was then passed in November 2017. Dominique highlights her John Carroll experience as preparing her for life after competitive gymnastics.