The best way to illustrate a Saint Ignatius education is to look towards our alumni. Each year, we honor a group of alumni with various awards to recognize their success since graduation and honor their continued commitment to the mission of our school. Read more to see this year's honorees.
Kevin M. Hinkel '73 will receive The Honorable Leo M. Spellacy '52 Bellarmine Award formerly known as the St. Robert Bellarmine Award. The award will be presented to Hinkel at the 42nd Annual Bellarmine Award Luncheon on September 17, 2021.
The award is being renamed in honor of the first Bellarmine Award recipient, the Honorable Leo M. Spellacy '52. Judge Spellacy is a retired judge on the 8th District Court of Appeals and received the award in 1983 for excellence in the legal field. He also served on the Saint Ignatius High School Board of Regents, was president of the Alumni Executive Council, was awarded the Founders' Award in 1984, and received the The Honorable John V. Corrigan '38 Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2003.
"Judge Spellacy is one of the most highly regarded judges in our state’s history," says Justice Michael P. Donnelly '84. "His strength of character and record of outstanding public service brings honor to our school’s history of producing Men for Others. He will forever serve as a role model for those of us privileged to serve in the legal profession."
Judge Spellacy's career began in the city of Cleveland law department and progressed through the county prosecutor's office, and the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas, where he was presiding judge for 15 years. He then became a judge in the the 8th District Ohio Court of Appeals. In 2010, Spellacy received the St. Thomas More Award from The Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland due to his professional achievements and extensive community involvement in both the legal and spiritual sectors.
"I wanted to be a lawyer, and that's what I've done all my life," says Judge Spellacy. "I felt very honored when I received the award in 1983. When Fr. Guiao informed me that the award would be named in my honor I felt very fortunate and blessed."
Robert A. Koch, Sr. '64 will be the 2020 recipient of the Founders' Award, named in honor of Rev. Robert Welsh, S.J. '54 and the late Mrs. and Mr. Murlan J. Murphy '36.
The Honorable John V. Corrigan '38 Distinguished Alumnus Award will be awarded to Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Carney '59 and Gerald F. Schroer, Jr. '82.
Dr. Philip T. Yuhas '06 will be the second-ever recipient of the Young Alumnus Award. This honor recognizes graduates of Saint Ignatius High School under the age of 35 who set and achieve exemplary standards for themselves personally and in their chosen professions.
The Founders' Award, Distinguished Alumni Awards and Young Alumnus Award will be presented at the 1886 Society Leadership Reception on Thursday, September 30.