Spirit of Francis Award — Marilyn Brodie ’64

Marilyn Brodie was chosen to receive the Spirit of Francis Award, which honors a layperson who embodies and exemplifies Franciscan values in their personal, professional, and spiritual life.

After graduating with a degree in music education, Brodie taught music for many years in elementary and junior high schools throughout Iowa. She also volunteered extensively, whether it was by directing local church choirs or teaching religious education to junior and senior high school students.

She received a master’s degree in pastoral studies from St. Ambrose University in 1994 and worked as a faith formation coordinator for a Catholic school for a few years, before becoming a full-time volunteer.

According to a classmate who nominated her, “Marilyn is a faith-filled, dynamic, active, talented, and humble individual who always looks for more ways to help individuals and groups. Her work and volunteer experience over the more than 40 years since she graduated from Viterbo shows her dedication to the Catholic Church, to Catholic education, to the Franciscan way, and to her community.”

 

Service to the University — Wendy (Young) (Wegner) Storandt ’76

Wendy Storandt has been selected to receive an award for service to the university for her continuous commitment to helping students.

Storandt graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and began to teach at Viterbo in 1978. During her years at Viterbo, she has served on numerous committees, including promotion and tenure, faculty concerns, planning, and many others. She has served as the president of the faculty assembly since 2003.

In 1998, Storandt was chosen to receive Viterbo’s Teacher of the Year Award for her excellence in teaching and supporting nursing students. She is known for her compassion and unwavering support of her students, past and present.

Wendy received her Master of Science in Nursing degree in 1983 from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and, in September 1995, received certification as an advance directives counselor. She also has participated in the National Case Study Institute at the University of Buffalo-New York.

Her passion for continuing education has carried over into the classroom, where she is able to share her skills and expertise with her students. She has been a valuable resource for connecting nursing alumni to the university, as she stays in contact with her former students throughout the decades. She is indeed an important component of the history of the School of Nursing at Viterbo.

 

Young Alumni Award — Chad Hrdina ’01

Chad Hrdina is a special assistant in the office of the assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Currently, Hrdina develops strategies and initiatives for interdiction, preparedness, and response to terrorism incidents or events (accidents) including nuclear detonation, dirty bomb detonation, a number of chemical weapon incidents such as chlorine and nerve agents, and biological scenarios such as plague, anthrax, and small pox.

Hrdina advises the assistant secretary, as well as the secretary of health and human services, the White House, and the Joint Staff (Department of Defense) on matters of preparedness and response to CBRNE incidents, as well as national strategies, and funding initiatives for preparedness and response in the homeland security field.

Additionally, Hrdina is a U.S. representative to the Global Health Security Action Group, part of the G8, as a subject matter expert in radiological and nuclear terrorism and response where he interacts with other nations to develop harmonic response strategies to terrorism incidents requiring international coordination or spanning international borders.

Hrdina received his Master of Science degree in biochemistry and molecular biology with a specialization in biotechnology from Georgetown University in 2003, and his bachelor of science from Viterbo University in 2001.

Hrdina is certified in weapons of mass destruction and homeland security by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and is studying for a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies at the U.S. Naval War College.