2026 Alumni Award recipients recognized during Franciscan University’s Homecoming Weekend.
Franciscan University of Steubenville honored four alumni for their professional accomplishments, service, and fidelity to the Catholic faith at the 37th annual Alumni Awards Banquet September 25 during Homecoming Weekend 2026.
Dr. Gregory Bottaro ’03 received the Father Dan Egan Alumni Award, which recognizes success in health care, human services, or the life sciences.
Bottaro is a psychologist, founder of the CatholicPsych Institute, and creator of the CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism, which integrates Catholic philosophy and theology with psychology. He also hosts the Being Human podcast and is the author of The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment at a Time.
Bottaro recalled transferring to Franciscan after beginning college at Boston College and finding at Franciscan a place that deeply shaped his faith, friendships, vocation, and professional work.
“I’m grateful to receive it, and I’m proud to represent this university,” Bottaro said.
John DuBois ’84 received the Rose M. DeFede Faithful Franciscan Award for his longstanding service to Franciscan University and commitment to its mission and values.
DuBois is president of Illumination Financial Group in Steubenville and vice president of the University’s Alumni Board. He has also shared his financial expertise with Franciscan employees and students.
DuBois first visited Franciscan in 1978 and said he wanted to attend a university that would support his faith journey. His connection to Franciscan became even more personal when he met his future wife while serving as an orientation leader.
“I would challenge you to find other universities that do all three,” DuBois said of Franciscan’s formation of body, mind, and spirit. “Most do not.”
Katherine (Irvin ’18) Herrmann received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which recognizes a graduate from the last decade who has distinguished himself or herself academically, professionally, through community service, or through outstanding personal achievement.
Herrmann is an associate attorney with Steptoe & Johnson, where she concentrates her practice in professional liability and energy litigation. She also serves as the West Virginia State Bar Young Lawyer Board District One representative and as a board member of the Sexual Assault Help Center of the Upper Ohio Valley.
Her family’s connection to Franciscan stretches back to 1958, when her grandfather, Dr. John Irvin, graduated from the College of Steubenville. Her parents and in-laws also met at Franciscan.
“The thing that I took away most from my time at Franciscan was the actual emphasis on what is objective truth and what is good and what is right and what is true,” Herrmann said.
Matthew Schlater ’04 received the Bishop John King Mussio Award for distinguished and faithful service to the Catholic Church.
Schlater is chairman of the board of Damascus, which has grown from a Catholic summer youth camp into a ministry serving more than 25,000 young people annually. He previously served as chief operating officer of the Diocese of Columbus and continues to assist the diocese as an advisor to Bishop Earl Fernandes and a member of the Diocesan Finance Council. Earlier this year, Schlater received the pontifical Benemerenti Medal for his service to the Church.
Schlater said he came to Franciscan to play sports and earn a business degree, but the University ultimately taught him to view every aspect of his life through the lens of eternity.
“Franciscan makes it normal to look at everything—your work, your money, your marriage, your time—through the lens of eternity,” Schlater said.
Franciscan University President Father Dave Pivonka, TOR ’89, closed the evening by thanking the four honorees and reflecting on the University’s mission to form alumni who serve God and the Church throughout their lives.
“Our goal at Franciscan University is to form the men and women that the Lord sends to us, to make sure that eventually they are part of the saints among saints in the halls of heaven,” Father Pivonka said.
View images of the awardees here.
