Every year, RHS honors remarkable graduates with the Dominican Alumnae Award. The recipients of these awards have been nominated for their great standing in the community and life of dedication to Christian ideals. The winners are chosen from any background, as long as they display one of the three areas from which awards are given: Service, Professional Excellence, and Rosary Spirit.

The Spirit of Rosary Award was given to Mary Pat Cherwin, class of 1967, currently residing in Bristol. Mary Pat has been actively involved with RHS since her graduation. In the summer of 1985 she became a part of the staff at Rosary as the first Enrollment director, where she worked for Rosary until the spring of 1998. During those years she attended all the Lay Advisory Bd. of Trustees to report on the activities and work of recruiting and enrolling future Rosary students. In the fall of 1997 she was asked to sit on the Lay Advisory Bd. of Trustees, which she did for 12 years. After that, she served on the Governing Board of Trustees until May of 2011. She is known for being an involved person who loves helping others. 

Professional Excellence was awarded to Dr. Lorene Fabrizius Eckberg, class of 1974, currently residing in Batavia. She received her degree in Medical Technology from Northern Illinois University in 1978. From there she received her doctorate from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and went on for her Residency at Loyola University Hospital.  She is noted for her achievements in education, professional experience, and awards. She is currently a pediatrician at Dreyer Medical Clinic. In 2010 she was Chicago Magazine Top Doc’s for Kids. In 2011 she was nominated for the Nation’s Top Doctor’s award and selected among the among the nation’s top doctors by U.S. News Media Group and Castle Connolly Medical LTD. That same year she was nominated by readers for the Chicago Parent Magazine list of Chicago’s Favorite Kid Docs. Through her work as a doctor she has touched the lives of many children. She is involved with Rosary by performing the annual sports physicals for Rosary athletes on the site at RHS. She lives the Gospel with her generous heart and kindness to others. 

The Service Award was given to Mary Fraser Hodson, class of 1968, currently residing in Champaign. This award signifies one who has truly dedicated their life to helping those less fortunate.  For the last 15 years she has taken an active role in many charitable activities of Rotary International. She has served as past president of her local Rotary chapter in Champaign-Urbana. In 2008 she traveled to Honduras as part of a Rotary project that painted a home for street children. She returned to Honduras again in 2011 on a humanitarian trip with Rotary. In support of ShleterBox, a disaster relief organization, she makes presentations to Rotary Clubs to encourage donations so that boxes containing tents and essential supplies can be quickly provided to homeless and displaced victims of manmade and natural disasters. She is a secretary for a reunion of World War II veterans who served in the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion. She has also volunteered at and presently serves on the Board of Directors of Cunningham Children’s Home which is a home serving troubled and mentally ill teenagers. She continues to wear the Rosary spirit as she brings the mission of Rosary to the communities she serves. 

Rosary congratulates all the nominees and recipients of this honor. 

The award service will be held during the Candle Rose Ceremony on May 18, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the M.L. Kunold Athletic Facility at Rosary High School.