Honoring Toreros Who Light the Way: A Look Back at USD’s 2025 Alumni Honors

Last month, the Torero community came together to celebrate Alumni Honors, an event that recognizes graduates whose lives and work embody USD’s mission of excellence, leadership, service and compassionate global citizenship.

Hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations, the 2025 ceremony celebrated the remarkable contributions of Toreros who personify the university's commitment to creating a more inclusive, sustainable and hopeful world.

“Alumni Honors represents the very best of USD and our Torero community,” said Eric Hafner, senior director of Alumni Relations. “Each of them encapsulates the ideals of our institution by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love.”

 “The USD community is not only global, it’s intergalactic! I’m proud to say that our alumni are doing amazing things to make the world — and beyond — a better place for everyone,” said James T. Harris III, president of the University of San Diego.

Alumni Honors History: A Legacy That Began with Two Visionaries

On his way west in 1937, from St. Joseph, Missouri to San Diego — where he would take his post as the inaugural and newly consecrated bishop of the San Diego Diocese — Bishop Buddy stopped in San Francisco to meet Mother Hill, the Superior Vicar of the California Province of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

Bishop Buddy had a vision of building a Catholic university in San Diego, and he knew he couldn’t do it without Mother Hill. He founded the San Diego College for Men and served as its president. She founded the San Diego College for Women and served as its president. Together, they founded what has become the University of San Diego.

The ceremony is anchored by USD’s two most prestigious awards, named for our esteemed founders, Bishop Charles Francis Buddy and Mother Rosalie Clifton Hill, and bestowed upon extraordinary graduates. The evening also features awards celebrating outstanding career achievements and rising professionals of noteworthy accomplishment.

The Founders’ Awards: Service and Humanitarianism

Bishop Charles Francis Buddy Award
Named for the founder of the San Diego College for Men, this award recognizes an alumnus/a for extraordinary contribution and commitment to humanitarian causes.

Adama Iwu ’05 (BA)
Co-Founder of the “We Said Enough” Movement

Iwu is a social justice advocate and public affairs executive best known as the co-founder of the "We Said Enough" movement, which exposed sexual harassment in California’s political system and earned her a place among Time magazine’s 2017 “Silence Breakers.” She continues to lead efforts for legislative reform and workplace justice, with a focus on protecting and empowering marginalized voices.

Mother Rosalie Clifton Hill Award
Named for the founder of the San Diego College for Women, this award is presented to an alumnus/a for extraordinary service and a continuously active relationship with the University.

Richard Yousko ‘87 (BBA)
Founder, SJ Creations, Inc.

Yousko is a successful entrepreneur and dedicated Torero volunteer. A former student leader, he continued his service on the Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2000 to 2013, including a term as president from 2004 to 2006. He has served on numerous councils and advisory committees, demonstrating a sustained commitment to supporting USD’s mission across several schools and initiatives.

Professional Distinction and Excellence

Author E. Hughes Career Achievement Award
Established in 1995, this award commemorates the legacy of USD’s first President and is bestowed upon alumni who have exhibited significant distinction or extraordinary contributions in their careers.

Kathy Shadle James ’85 (MSN), ’91 (DNSC)
Family and Women’s Health Nurse
Practitioner, Researcher, and Retired Professor of Nursing

Dr. James is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and an International Fellow of the World Obesity Federation. She spent 25 years as a professor in the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, where her research focused on improving the quality of life for underserved families. Though retired, she continues to mentor USD’s nurse practitioner students, translating research into improved patient outcomes.

Frederick Schenk ’78 (JD) 
Managing Partner, Schenk Law Firm

Schenk is a nationally recognized trial attorney who provided pro bono services to the families of 9/11 victims via Trial Lawyers Care, the largest pro bono program in the history of American jurisprudence. Recognized by Best Lawyers as San Diego’s Trial Lawyer of the Year multiple times, he has practiced law for over four decades and served on the executive committee of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Rising Stars

Emerging Leader Award
Established in 2011, this award recognizes rising professionals who have graduated within the last 10 years and are making a noteworthy impact in their career and/or community.

Momo Bertrand ’19 (MA)
Education Specialist, The World Bank

Bertrand is dedicated to improving educational systems in West Africa and changing the continent's narrative. He recently published reports on AI in education and disability inclusion for universities, remaining committed to training the next generation of storytellers and Changemakers.

Christian Burgos Nolan ’19 (MA)
Outreach Coordinator, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

Nolan is a passionate community advocate and outreach coordinator at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, where she provides vital food and resources to those in need. She also runs programs at Mama’s Kitchen, supporting clients facing critical illnesses, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to helping the community's most vulnerable.

Ray Vialu ’20 (BA)
Clinical Psychology PsyD Student, California Baptist University

Vialu is a triple-degree student pursuing a Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD) and two Master’s degrees. He has presented research at national conferences on veteran suicide prevention and the role of social support in marginalized communities, focusing his current scholarship on developing programming for student-veterans.

Career Achievement Spotlight: First Torero in Space
This year’s ceremony also recognized Matthew Dominick ‘05 (BS/BA), NASA Astronaut and U.S. Navy Commander, as a recipient of the Author E. Hughes Career Achievement Award. Dominick made USD history when he became the first alumnus to journey into outer space as a commander of Dragon Crew 8, the spacecraft that brings the crew to and from the International Space Station. 

Due to the federal government shutdown, Commander Dominick was required to postpone his planned visit. USD remains immensely proud to honor his outstanding career achievements and looks forward to celebrating this award with him in the near future.

Nominations for Alumni Honors 2026

Nominations for next year’s award ceremony are open now with a deadline of 5 p.m. PST, on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. For information, guidelines and to submit a nomination, visit https://www.sandiego.edu/alumni/events/alumni-honors.php.

— USD News Center