Ginger Giovale ’65 to Receive Sesquicentennial Legacy Award, New “Young Alumni Award” Introduced This Year
Westminster University will host its annual Alumni Awards on Friday, April 11, honoring the remarkable achievements of alumni and community members. This year’s award ceremony will also mark the introduction of the Young Alumni Award, recognizing a recent graduate who has made a significant impact, along with the prestigious Sesquicentennial Legacy Award given in honor of Westminster’s milestone 150-year anniversary.
“We are thrilled to honor these remarkable Griffins and their embodiment of a Westminster education through excellence in their careers, their service to their communities, and dedication to the Westminster mission,” said Anna Renzetti, Director of Alumni Relations. “Each of this year’s honorees have contributed immensely to Westminster, and we look forward to celebrating them on April 11.”
The Westminster Alumni Awards are selected each year by the university’s Alumni Board of Directors. This year’s honorees are:
Ginger Giovale ‘65
Sesquicentennial Legacy Award
Ginger Giovale has dedicated her life to shaping Westminster University. After joining
the university’s Board of Trustees in 1977, she led a 30-year revival that strengthened
Westminster’s endowment, expanded scholarships, and funded major campus projects.
Giovale’s leadership was instrumental in the Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business, the Giovale Library, and the Meldrum Science Center. In 2006, her historic $10 million gift—the largest in Westminster’s history—earned The Wall Street Journal’s “Gift of the Week Science Prize.” Honored with a Westminster Distinguished Alumni Award and an Honorary Doctor of Public Service, she remains a driving force behind the college’s continued success.
Ginger’s philanthropy endures through investments in faculty development, innovative programs, and student opportunities, ensuring Westminster’s future remains bright. Her commitment reflects a lifelong passion for education that inspires discovery and lifelong relationships.
Taylor Stevens ‘18
Young Alumni Award
Taylor Stevens is an investigative reporter at FOX 13 News, which she joined in 2024
through Scripps’ Journalism Journey Initiative. Before transitioning to broadcast,
she spent two years with The Associated Press' Global Investigations Team, contributing
to the “Lethal Restraint” project on police use of force.
Previously, Taylor was a senior politics reporter at The Salt Lake Tribune, covering government and policy for nearly five years. Her reporting has earned multiple awards, including recognition for her investigative work on Utah’s COVID-19 response and homelessness issues. In 2019, she was named the Utah Society of Professional Journalists’ Best Newspaper Reporter.
Taylor holds a master’s degree in investigative journalism from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s in communication from Westminster University, where she was editor-in-chief of The Forum. She remains engaged with her alma mater as co-vice chair of the Honors College Advisory Board.
Delvis Fernandez Levy ‘61
Distinguished Alumni Award
Delvis Alejandro Fernández Levy has dedicated his life to education, social justice,
and U.S.-Cuba relations. A Westminster University graduate, he later earned a PhD
from UC Berkeley and spent over three decades as a math professor at Chabot College,
where he championed bilingual education and supported the Chicano Student Union.
In 1995, Delvis founded the Cuban American Alliance Education Fund (CAAEF) to foster dialogue between the U.S. and Cuba. Through CAAEF, he has organized policy forums, led delegations, and contributed to global discussions on diplomatic relations. His bilingual publication, La Alborada, has influenced key conversations on U.S.-Cuba policy.
A sought-after speaker, Delvis has appeared in major media, documentaries, and lectures at institutions like UCLA and Fordham University. His memoir, My World, My Quest: La Búsqueda Final, reflects his lifelong mission to bridge cultures and advocate for justice, leaving a lasting impact on education and diplomacy.
Nancy Panos Schmitt
Honorary Alumni Award
Nancy Panos Schmitt is a marketing professor and chair of the sports management program
at Westminster University, known for her expertise in marketing strategy, branding,
and advertising. Her engaging teaching style and dedication to mentoring have earned
her numerous accolades, including the Westminster Gore Excellence in Teaching Award
and recognition as a favorite professor by students and alumni.
A member of the American Marketing Association and the Marketing Educator’s Association, Nancy has presented on teaching methodology at various conferences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and philosophy and an MBA from the University of Utah, with additional graduate studies in genetics at Virginia Tech and the University of Arizona.
Beyond academia, Nancy is a devoted Green Bay Packers fan, a pop culture enthusiast, and an avid gardener. She values lifelong connections with students and frequently invites alumni back to the classroom to inspire the next generation of marketing professionals.
Tommy Connor
Athletics Hall of Fame
Tommy Connor is a veteran basketball coach with over two decades of success. Tasked
with rebuilding the program from scratch in 1999, he guided Westminster to 10 seasons
of 20+ wins, seven regular-season conference championships, two tournament titles,
and nine NAIA National Championship appearances. A five-time Frontier Conference Coach
of the Year, he mentored 17 NAIA All-Americans and led his teams to national academic
honors.
A former four-year starting point guard at the University of Utah, Connor helped the Utes reach the NCAA Tournament before launching his coaching career under Rick Majerus. He later spent 14 seasons on Utah’s coaching staff, guiding the team to multiple postseason appearances, including a Sweet 16.
Now an assistant coach at the University of Washington, Connor continues to impact the game with his leadership and expertise.
Tickets to this year’s Westminster Alumni Awards are available online.
