Brescia University will recognize alumni with the University’s highest honors at its Laurel Awards ceremony on Saturday, April 18. The awards were presented by the Brescia University Alumni Association, Athletics Department, and the President’s Office during a full evening celebrating excellence, leadership, and service.
Honorees were recognized for their lifetime achievements, service to others, and embodiment of the Brescia Difference. During the ceremony, recipients had the opportunity to reflect on their time at Brescia University and share perspectives on what they carry forward from the Ursuline education they received.
This year’s ceremony includes the introduction of a new honor, the Charlie Kamuf Servant Leadership Award, recognizing a Brescia change-maker who leads with humility and service. The award honors the legacy of Charlie Kamuf, a member of the Brescia University Board of Trustees for more than 40 years, whose lifelong dedication to service created a meaningful and lasting impact within the Brescia and Owensboro communities.
2025 Laurel Awards Honorees
Bearcat of the Year: Duda Feres ’25
Father Charles Saffer Alumni Hall of Fame Award: Eva Glahn Atkinson ’79
Outstanding Alumna Award: Dr. Amanda Morris ’05
Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees: Andrew Emmick ’04 and the 2003–2004 Women’s Basketball Team
Outstanding Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD): Tristan Durbin ’18
Charlie Kamuf Servant Leadership Award: Carl V. Greenwell ’73
Distinguished Alumni Honorees: Dr. M. Edward Jones ’66, Sr. Carol Shively, OSU ’83, and Dr. Gayle Rhodes ’83
The Laurel Awards program unites Brescia’s most prestigious recognitions into one signature event. Its name is inspired by the laurel tree depicted in the crests of both the Sisters of Mount St. Joseph and Brescia University. In ancient Rome, laurel leaves symbolized victory and perseverance; today, the laurel also represents growth, strength, and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, values central to Brescia’s mission.