The commencement ceremony included an address by Newman Assistant Professor of English Marguerite Regan, Ph.D. Regan received the 2009 Newman University Teaching Excellence Award, an annual recognition to a full-time faculty member who has demonstrated an innovative or dynamic approach to courses, course revisions, and teaching techniques. The award recipient has the honor of speaking at the following fall and spring commencement ceremonies.
Honorary Degrees
During Commencement, Newman officials also bestowed Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa degrees upon two notable and accomplished members of the extended Newman community. The honorary degrees are awarded each fall and spring commencement to individuals whose life and work reflect exemplary dedication to one of the university’s four Core Values: Catholic Identity, Culture of Service, Academic Excellence, and Global Perspective.
For the Spring 2010 ceremony, Herman L. Bachrodt received an honorary degree as a model of Service. Bachrodt came to Sacred Heart College in 1967 to launch the men’s basketball program and later become the college’s first athletic director. He previously served as basketball coach and athletic director for St. Mary’s High School and Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School. He has an outstanding record of generosity and service to Newman University and to Catholic education in Wichita.
Bachrodt passed away on June 13 at the age of 82.
Betty Adams, ASC, received an honorary degree as a model of Global Perspective. Adams graduated from Sacred Heart Academy and joined the Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC), and earned a degree in music at Sacred Heart College. She taught music and other classes in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, and later at Newman. She became proficient in several languages, and now lives in Rome, the home of the international ASC, where she serves as music teacher, linguist and translator, traveling extensively to facilitate all communications, written and verbal, for the ASC congregation abroad.
