2006 Distinguished Alumni
   Award Winners

Three alumni were honored for their achievement and service to the College at the annual Aquinas College Benefit Dinner on November 14, 2006.

The Distinguished Alumni
   of the Year Award —
    Bishop David R. Choby

Sister Thomas Aquinas, O.P., President of Aquinas College presented the Distinguished Alumni of the Year award to the Most Reverend David R. Choby, D.D., J.C.L. Bishop Choby attended Aquinas from 1965 through 1966 while discerning his vocation to the priesthood.

His response to God's call took him form Aquinas to Ambrose College, The Catholic University of America and the Angelicum University in Rome. Over the course of his priesthood, he served the Diocese of Nashville in many capacities, including an appointment to the faculty of the Josephinum Seminary in Ohio, on the Diocesan Tribunal, as an adjunct faculty member for Aquinas College and as a parish pastor.

Most recently the Church called him to serve as Bishop of Nashville. For his 32 years of priestly ministry and especially in recognition of his Episcopal appointment, Bishop Choby was presented the inaugural Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award.

The Distinguished Alumni
   Service Award —
    Patricia Sanders

Sister Thomas Aquinas also presented the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Service Award to Patricia (Pat) C. Sanders A.A. 1975 for more than 30 years of volunteer service to the College.

Known as Patsy to her friends, she enrolled at Aquinas in the fall of 1973. She was treasurer of the Student Government Association, a cheerleader and an ambassador for the College. Her participation as an alumna includes serving as president of the alumni association and helping out with homecoming festivities in the early 80's. She has spoken to students at several Career Days at the College about the merits of becoming an educator. More recently she has served as vice-president of the Alumni Association; has tirelessly volunteered at the annual Alumni Easter Egg Hunt, Commencement Celebration Luncheon and Alumni Family Picnic; and served as a charter member of the Aquinas Alumni Advisory Council. Pat Sanders currently works as a resource teacher at Glencliff Elementary School in south Nashville.

The Distinguished Young
   Alumni Award —
    Joey Valenti

Joey Valenti (BBA 2001) was honored with the inaugural Distinguished Young Alumni Award. Valenti earned his AA and BBA degrees from Aquinas. He was the first graduate of Aquinas College's business program and even contributed ideas for its curriculum. He served as the first president of the recently reformed Aquinas College Alumni Association and has been an active volunteer in alumni activities and College-sponsored events. He is a charter member of the Aquinas Alumni Advisory Council.

After graduation, he worked as a management trainee for two years for Consolidate Electrical Distributors. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to enter retail commercial real estate in 2004 for Grubb & Ellis/Centennial, Inc. of Nashville. Sister Thomas Aquinas presented Aquinas College's first Distinguished Young Alumni Award to Joey Valenti in recognition of his dedication and generosity to Aquinas College.

Previous Winners

There are no previous winners as 2006 was the inaugural year for the awards.

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