Alumni Awards
Westminster Alumni Awards
Join us on April 10, 2026, for Westminster University’s Alumni Awards—an inspiring evening dedicated to honoring the exceptional accomplishments of Westminster alumni and community members. This annual celebration recognizes individuals who exemplify leadership, service, and achievement in their professions and communities. Gather with fellow alumni, faculty, and friends to celebrate the people who continue to make Westminster proud. Don’t miss this meaningful night of recognition, connection, and celebration.
2026 Ceremony and Reception
Friday, April 10, 2026
Westminster Performing Arts Center
6:30 p.m. Alumni Awards Program, Vieve Gore Concert Hall
7:30 p.m. Hors d’Oeuvres and Cocktail Reception, Tanner Atrium
$55 per guest | $45 before March 31
Cocktail Attire
For ADA accommodations, contact Tiffanie Perotti at tperotti@westminsteru.edu.
Alumni Award Winners
The Westminster Alumni Awards honor those who exemplify a Westminster education through excellence in their careers, service to their community, and dedication to the mission of Westminster.
Kristina Hauschildt '87
Alumni who exemplify a Westminster University education by excelling in their careers or through service to their community receive the highest honor as a Distinguished Alumni.
Kristina (Kris) Hauschildt embodies Westminster’s mission of learning, accomplishment, and service through a life dedicated to public safety, advocacy, and change. A biology graduate of Westminster, Kris has transformed personal tragedy into national impact—using her voice, research, and determination to protect lives and reshape public policy.
In 2013, Kris lost both of her parents, Daryl and Shirley Jenkins, to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning while they were staying in a hotel. In the wake of that devastating loss, she committed herself to ensuring that no other family would endure the same tragedy. In 2018, she founded the Daryl and Shirley Jenkins Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide and the critical importance of CO detection in homes, hotels, and public spaces. Each year, the Foundation distributes hundreds of free CO alarms through fire departments, hospitals, and community programs nationwide, while also providing free, accessible educational resources for families, professionals, and educators.
Kris’s impact extends far beyond awareness. She is a nationally recognized advocate whose work has driven meaningful regulatory change. She has co-authored published data reports on CO exposure in U.S. hotels, created one of the most comprehensive public databases of CO incidents dating back to 1967, and successfully championed revisions to major national safety codes. Her advocacy helped establish requirements for CO detection in existing hotels under the 2021 NFPA Life Safety Code and expand the 2024 International Fire Code to require CO detection in all commercial occupancies. She also serves on UL technical committees, advocating for safer, more accessible CO detection technologies.
Through perseverance, compassion, and courage, Kris Hauschildt has proven the power of one individual to effect systemic change—saving lives and leaving a legacy of service that reflects the very best of Westminster alumni.
- Delvis Fernandez Levy ('61) - 2025
- Amram Musungu (’07, MAcc ’16) - 2024
- Ze Min Xiao (MACL ’12) - 2024
- Andy Larson (’12) - 2023
- Tillie Uribe (’93) - 2022
- Amy Leininger (’11) - 2020
- Charles (Chuck) Chiarotti (’85) - 2020
- Marlene M. Von Friedrichs-Fitzwater (’82) - 2019
- Michelle Leo Cousins (’02, MPC ’12) - 2019
- Scott Beck (MBA ’94) - 2019
- Bill Mouskondis (’57) - 2017
- Carlos Linares (’01, MBA ’05) - 2017
- Patrick Mullen (’10) - 2017
- Tofi Ta’afua (Honors ’01, MBA ’00) - 2017
- Chris Wharton (’06) - 2016
- Jeffery Nelson (MBA ’04) - 2016
- Trent Thursby Alvey (’87) - 2016
- Ginger Giovale (’65) - 2015
- Joe Muscolino (’75) - 2015
- Ray Bradford (’07) - 2015
- Ann Merritt (’66) - 2014
- Ashley Babbitt (’10, MSC ’16) - 2014
- Ronald Jibson MBA (’91) - 2014
- Julie Balk (’83) - 2013
- Kim T. Adamson (’79) - 2013
- Solomon Swan (’07, MBA ’12) - 2013
- Frances Battle, M.Ed (’78) - 2012
- Khosrow Semnani (’72) - 2012
- Richard Paff (’67) - 2012
- Babs De Lay (’76, ’79) - 2011
- Dirk van Klaveren (’70) - 2010
- James Andersen (’74) - 2010
- Patrick Iverson (’76) - 2010
- DeAnne Dunn Hanson (’64) - 2008
- John “Jackie” Robertson (’78) - 2008
- Roberta Roberts Patrick (’56) - 2008
- France A. Davis (’77) - 2007
- Josie Valdez (’83) - 2007
- Mark Wheatley (’89) - 2007
- Barbara Parady Hoagland (’70) - 2006
- Lowell Judson Farmer (’56) - 2006
- Owen D. Wells (’75) - 2006
- Christine Pannier Chytraus (’77) - 2005
- David Litvack (’94) - 2005
- William L. Sedgewick (’94) - 2005
- William Y.K. Wong (’58) - 2005
- Shirley Michel (’87) - 2004
- Thomas Metcalf (’65) - 2004
- Doug Morton (’73) - 2002
- Forrest S. Much (’73) - 2002
- June Cline (’87) - 2001
- Patrick Moore (’77) - 2000
- Richard D. Wood (’77) - 1999
- Irene Warr - 1998
- Bernice Bradshaw - 1985
- Jim Martin (’97)
- Steve Crane (’70)
Ed Sweeney ’73
Alumni who exemplify a Westminster University education by excelling in their careers or through service to their community receive the highest honor as a Distinguished Alumni.
Ed Sweeney’s connection to Westminster runs deep—rooted in proximity, strengthened through service, and sustained by a lifelong commitment to education and community. Raised in Salt Lake City just minutes from campus, Ed enrolled at Westminster College in 1969 and graduated in 1973, beginning a relationship with the institution that has spanned more than five decades.
After earning his law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1976, Ed launched a legal career that quickly expanded into leadership, philanthropy, and nonprofit service. He began practicing law in Salt Lake City before being invited in 1986 by then-President Charles Dick to return to Westminster as General Counsel and Vice President of Institutional Advancement. In this role, Ed helped guide the institution through critical moments of growth and transition, blending legal expertise with a strategic vision for advancement.
In 1991, Ed transitioned into national fundraising leadership, serving as Executive Vice President of a major gift fundraising firm before founding his own consulting practice. His commitment to mission-driven work continued in 2008, when he helped establish a nonprofit organization that acquired the assets of KCPW public radio, further demonstrating his dedication to civic engagement and public service. He remained involved with KCPW until 2015, alongside longstanding work in family-owned Park City real estate investment companies.
Ed’s service to Westminster has been unwavering. Over the years, he has contributed as a member of the Board of Trustees, Trustee Emeritus, administrator, and alumni leader. Since 2020, he has served as Chair of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences Advancement Committee, supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals.
A proud Westminster family, Ed and his wife Lu—married for 43 years—are parents to three Westminster alumni, with a daughter-in-law who earned her Master of Public Health from the university. Together, their legacy reflects the enduring impact of a Westminster education across generations.
- Delvis Fernandez Levy ('61) - 2025
- Amram Musungu (’07, MAcc ’16) - 2024
- Ze Min Xiao (MACL ’12) - 2024
- Andy Larson (’12) - 2023
- Tillie Uribe (’93) - 2022
- Amy Leininger (’11) - 2020
- Charles (Chuck) Chiarotti (’85) - 2020
- Marlene M. Von Friedrichs-Fitzwater (’82) - 2019
- Michelle Leo Cousins (’02, MPC ’12) - 2019
- Scott Beck (MBA ’94) - 2019
- Bill Mouskondis (’57) - 2017
- Carlos Linares (’01, MBA ’05) - 2017
- Patrick Mullen (’10) - 2017
- Tofi Ta’afua (Honors ’01, MBA ’00) - 2017
- Chris Wharton (’06) - 2016
- Jeffery Nelson (MBA ’04) - 2016
- Trent Thursby Alvey (’87) - 2016
- Ginger Giovale (’65) - 2015
- Joe Muscolino (’75) - 2015
- Ray Bradford (’07) - 2015
- Ann Merritt (’66) - 2014
- Ashley Babbitt (’10, MSC ’16) - 2014
- Ronald Jibson MBA (’91) - 2014
- Julie Balk (’83) - 2013
- Kim T. Adamson (’79) - 2013
- Solomon Swan (’07, MBA ’12) - 2013
- Frances Battle, M.Ed (’78) - 2012
- Khosrow Semnani (’72) - 2012
- Richard Paff (’67) - 2012
- Babs De Lay (’76, ’79) - 2011
- Dirk van Klaveren (’70) - 2010
- James Andersen (’74) - 2010
- Patrick Iverson (’76) - 2010
- DeAnne Dunn Hanson (’64) - 2008
- John “Jackie” Robertson (’78) - 2008
- Roberta Roberts Patrick (’56) - 2008
- France A. Davis (’77) - 2007
- Josie Valdez (’83) - 2007
- Mark Wheatley (’89) - 2007
- Barbara Parady Hoagland (’70) - 2006
- Lowell Judson Farmer (’56) - 2006
- Owen D. Wells (’75) - 2006
- Christine Pannier Chytraus (’77) - 2005
- David Litvack (’94) - 2005
- William L. Sedgewick (’94) - 2005
- William Y.K. Wong (’58) - 2005
- Shirley Michel (’87) - 2004
- Thomas Metcalf (’65) - 2004
- Doug Morton (’73) - 2002
- Forrest S. Much (’73) - 2002
- June Cline (’87) - 2001
- Patrick Moore (’77) - 2000
- Richard D. Wood (’77) - 1999
- Irene Warr - 1998
- Bernice Bradshaw - 1985
- Jim Martin (’97)
- Steve Crane (’70)
Jazmin May '19
The Young Alumni Award recognizes a Westminster graduate from the past 10 years who has demonstrated outstanding achievement, leadership, or service in their profession or community. This award honors an alum who embodies Westminster’s values and makes a meaningful impact early in their career.
Jazmin May is no stranger to being first. A firstborn daughter, first-generation immigrant, and first-generation college graduate, she has built her career around breaking barriers and expanding access for the communities she serves.
Her work in politics and advocacy has had a significant, wide-reaching impact, spanning mayoral and city council elections, ballot initiatives, and nonprofit engagement focused on education, equity, and civic participation. Jazmin approaches every role with a deep commitment to community-centered leadership and the belief that political systems should work for everyone.
Jazmin earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Westminster University in 2019. During her time on campus, she served as Student Body President and held multiple leadership roles, including Orientation Program Assistant and Junior Class Senator. In recognition of her leadership and service, she received the Board of Trustees Character Award. She was actively engaged in campus and community life through mentorship programs, campus clubs, and initiatives such as the campus food pantry, experiences that shaped her commitment to thoughtful, inclusive leadership.
She built her career on political campaigns, holding roles across communications, finance, outreach, field organizing, and campaign management. In 2021, Jazmin served as Campaign Manager for Alejandro Puy’s Salt Lake City Council District 2 campaign, leading messaging, fundraising, and community-driven outreach rooted in representation and equity. She has also held leadership roles in the nonprofit sector, including Outreach Manager at The Leonardo Museum, where she expanded access to educational programming for underserved students.
Jazmin currently serves as Senior Director of People and Operations at Landslide Political, a nationally recognized political consulting firm, where she oversees core organizational functions, supports staff development, and helps deliver meaningful results for advocates and clients. As a DACA recipient, she brings lived experience navigating systems not built for everyone, fueling her commitment to inclusive leadership and expanded opportunity.
- Taylor Stevens ('18) - 2025
Jeff Nichols, History Professor
Honorary Alumni provide outstanding service and dedication to the mission of Westminster University.
Jeff Nichols has devoted his career to helping students understand the past not as a collection of dates and events, but as a set of powerful stories that shape who we are and how we live together. Originally from upstate New York, Jeff completed his undergraduate education at the State University of New York at Geneseo, just south of Rochester. Growing up near Lake George and the Adirondack State Park fostered an early appreciation for place, landscape, and history—interests that would later define his scholarly and teaching career.
Following graduation, Jeff served as an anti-submarine warfare officer in the U.S. Navy, stationed in the Pacific. His military service eventually brought him west, when the Navy assigned him to teach ROTC at the University of Utah. It was during this time that he fell in love with Utah and its rich, complex history. In 1995, Jeff joined the faculty at Westminster, where he would spend the next three decades inspiring students across disciplines.
Jeff’s teaching and scholarship focus on social and cultural history, with particular emphasis on Utah and the nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American West. His work explores topics ranging from the Gilded Age and Progressive Era to politics, current events, and the often-overlooked histories of prostitution and marginalized communities in Salt Lake City. In recent years, his interests have expanded toward environmental history, especially in the Moab region, the Wasatch Mountains, and the Great Salt Lake.
A passionate advocate for experiential learning, Jeff has taken the study of history beyond the classroom—into local archives, landscapes across the American West, and field experiences in Latin America and Europe. He has taught widely across campus, including in the Honors College, Gender Studies, Environmental Studies, and Spanish and Latin American Studies, leaving a lasting impact on generations of Westminster students.
- Nancy Panos Schmitt - 2025
- Robert M. Graham - 2024
- Byron Russell and Monte Caldwell - 2023
- Jeanne Ambruster - 2022
- Kristi Jones - 2020
- Bill Orchow - 2019
- Alan Rogers - 2017
- Preston Chiaro - 2016
- Curt Crowther - 2015
- Mary Crowther - 2015
- Michael Bassis - 2012
- Bob Frankenberg
- Steve Morgan
Mason Goodhand, Men’s Lacrosse
Athletics Hall of Fame INDUCTEE
Alumni who performed exceptionally well in one or more Westminster University athletic programs, receiving athletic recognition and displaying good character and citizenship.
Mason Goodhand served as the founding head coach of the Westminster men’s lacrosse program, leading the team from its inception in 2007 and establishing one of the most successful programs in the University’s athletic history.
As the program’s first and only head coach during its formative years, Goodhand built Westminster men’s lacrosse from the ground up. In just the program’s second season, he led the Griffins to the 2008 MCLA Division II National Championship—the first national championship in Westminster University history—setting a standard of excellence that defined the program for years to come.
Throughout his tenure, Goodhand guided Westminster through multiple competitive transitions, including movement from MCLA Division II to Division I and later into NCAA Division II within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Under his leadership, the Griffins qualified for the MCLA National Championships in all nine seasons of MCLA competition, reaching the semifinals or better four times.
Goodhand concluded his Westminster career with a 124–53 overall record, achieving a .701 winning percentage. His teams captured five RMLC Division II championships, earned the MCLA Division I regular-season conference title in 2015, and made several deep postseason runs, including a national runner-up finish in 2013.
His influence extended well beyond the field. Under Goodhand’s direction, 29 student-athletes earned MCLA All-American honors, 72 were named all-conference selections, and 10 Griffins were recognized as MCLA Scholar Athletes. His players also earned league-wide accolades, including Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year and a Godekeraw Award winner. In recognition of his leadership, Goodhand was named RMLC Coach of the Year in 2007.
Above all, Goodhand is remembered for his commitment to developing student-athletes as competitors, leaders, and engaged alumni. The foundation he established continues to shape Westminster men’s lacrosse and reflects the values of integrity, perseverance, and excellence.
Goodhand came to Westminster after working with the men’s lacrosse program at the University of Utah. He and his wife, Mary, raised their son Andrew and reside in Sandy, Utah.
