The awards highlight the impact of alumni across disciplines and communities and honor leadership in careers, service and philanthropy. In addition to the Alumni Fellow Awards for each of UofL’s schools and colleges, Louisville Alumni will present signature awards recognizing outstanding contributions in areas of inclusive excellence, military service and emerging leadership.

This year’s recipients include:

Alumnus of the Year

• Randall J. Bufford ’81

Bufford, a 1981 UofL College of Business graduate and founder of Trilogy Health Services, is a nationally recognized entrepreneur known for values-based leadership and a people-first approach. A former UofL Trustee and student manager for the 1980 NCAA Championship men’s basketball team, Bufford now leads 0924 Investments and the Bufford Family Foundation, which champions initiatives in health care, education and philanthropy, including scholarship support that is opening doors and changing lives for UofL students.

Alumni Fellows – Schools & Colleges

• College of Arts & Sciences: Elmer Lucille Allen ’02
• College of Business: David Krebs ’75
• School of Dentistry: Julie Watts McKee ’83
• College of ����ֱ�� & Human Development: Felicia Cumings Smith ’96, ’00
• Graduate School: Anees B. Chagpar ’09
• Kent School of Social Work & Family Science: Justin “Jay” Miller ’13
• Brandeis School of Law: Chadwick N. Gardner ’95
• University Libraries: Glenn Bossmeyer ’71, ’74, ’75
• School of Medicine: Steven T. Hester ’92, ’96, ’00
• School of Music: Amy I. Acklin ’98, ’00
• School of Nursing: Cynthia Logsdon
• School of Public Health & Information Sciences: Robin Elise Weiss ’01, ’12, ’15
• J.B. Speed School of Engineering: Peg O’Neil ’91
• Student Affairs Legacy Award: Kelly Hodges ’93, ’01

Signature Award Honorees

• Emerging Leader Award: Eric Wood ’08
• Inclusive Excellence Award: Loay Elbasyouni ’04, ’05
• Military Alumni Award: Al Riggle ’76
• Alumni Ambassador Award: Larry W. Horn Jr. ’08, ’11

“These honorees are leaders, innovators and difference-makers,” said Josh Hawkins, assistant vice president for alumni relations and annual giving. “Each recipient reflects the best of what it means to be a Louisville Cardinal; contributing to their fields, uplifting communities and proudly representing their alma mater.”

The 2025 honorees will be recognized during the annual Wilson Wyatt Alumni Awards ceremony on Oct. 23, as part of UofL’s Homecoming week festivities on the Belknap Campus.

The awards recognize prominent graduates who have earned distinction in their careers and have been exemplary ambassadors for the university. The Alumni Association selects 13 Alumni Fellows representing UofL schools, colleges and units. New this year are awards honoring alumni from University Libraries and Student Affairs.

Bruce Henderson, co-owner, chairman and chief executive officer of Henderson Services, is the 2017 Alumnus of the Year. He graduated from UofL with both his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and his Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering in 1973. Henderson is a longtime supporter of UofL, serving on numerous boards and committees.

Winners of the awards are:

• Gary C. Ball, School of Dentistry, 1978

Ball runs Ball Dentistry in Indianapolis with his wife and children. He is passionate about community service, regularly providing free dental care at a homeless shelter in Indianapolis and participating in more than 20 volunteer missions in China, Romania, Nicaragua, Vietnam and the Philippines. Ball established the Ball Bequest for Birth Defects and the Gary and Allyson Ball Endowment at UofL.

• Louis and Louise Bornwasser, Student Affairs Legacy Award

Louis Bornwasser was an original founder of UofL’s famous Red Barn. Since then, he and his wife, Louise, have continued their dedication to UofL students as members of the Red Barn Alumni Association and by establishing the Louis W. and Louise Bornwasser Student Emergency Fund, which helps lessen the burden of unexpected financial emergencies for UofL students.

• Claudia A. Corcoran, College of ����ֱ�� and Human Development, 1979

As an educator who began her career in Jefferson County Public Schools, Corcoran combines her passion for education with care for others and strongly believes in the promotion of peace, health and education. Corcoran and her husband, Tom, established an endowment to help UofL students study counseling and mental health overseas as part of an immersive study abroad program.

• Kenneth Crawford, II, College of Arts and Sciences, 1987

The President of Kenneth Crawford Interiors in Hollywood, Florida, Crawford is a prominent interior designer who has worked with prestigious clients across the world, and had his work published in design magazines and featured on television.

• Natasha DeJarnett, School of Public Health & Information Sciences, 2009, 2013

DeJarnett is dedicated to making our nation healthier. Through her work with the American Public Health Association, DeJarnett has received several significant awards, including a fellowship to investigate cardiovascular risks of air pollution exposures. One of her professional goals is to help the country achieve health equity.

• Jennifer Doyle, School of Nursing, 1998

A Perinatal Outreach Educator, Doyle has committed her nursing career to caring for women’s health and pregnant women. Ohio Governor John Kasich appointed her to the Ohio Maternal-Newborn Advisory Council, and she has taken on leadership roles in several volunteer causes. Doyle’s work is recognized in multiple publications and evidence-based clinical research studies.

• John P. Gearhart, School of Medicine, 1975

As a practicing physician and a professor, Gearhart is a pioneer in helping children born with congenital birth defects and childhood urinary cancers. He is a leading expert in pediatric urology and reconstructive surgery. Gearhart has been a lecturer and visiting professor across the United States and in England, Germany, Greece and Argentina.

• Marshall L. Matz, School of Law, 1971

Matz has spent his life serving those in need. He currently is a principal attorney with Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz, where he specializes in food, nutrition and agriculture law. During his career, he has worked as counsel to Senate committees on Capitol Hill and served as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Obama for America presidential campaign.

• Guy and Libbye Montgomery, UofL Libraries

The Montgomerys are staunch proponents of education who believe that libraries are where learning starts and continues to develop. The couple established the Elizabeth Kennedy Simon Conservation Fund, to conserve rare books in honor of Libbye’s late mother. They also have been instrumental in supporting UofL’s Archives and Special Collections Library.

• Rosalyn Taylor O’Neale, Kent School of Social Work, 1981

A Principal Consultant at Cook Ross, O’Neale has more than 30 years of experience leading learning-based interventions in more than 48 countries and six continents. She is an executive coach for Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and educational institutions, and has been instrumental in increasing diversity efforts of companies including Campbell Soup Company and MTV Networks.

• Julio Racine, School of Music, 1975

Racine is highly-regarded as one of the best composers in Haiti. He has dedicated his life to enriching the culture and exposing the world to the unique voices of Haitian people, including through his establishment of the Sainte Trinite Music School in Port-Au-Prince. He also organizes youth music camps across the country.  

• William J. Ready, College of Business, 2001

Ready is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at PayPal Holdings Inc. He is responsible for PayPal’s checkout experiences, Braintree, and Venmo. Prior to Paypal, Ready served as the Chief Financial Officer and President of iPay Technologies, and as a Management and Strategy Consultant of McKinsey & Company Inc.

• Timothy Reilly, School of Engineering, 1986

As founder and former president of Stonestreet One LLC, Reilly transformed an idea into a business with a global impact. Stonestreet One develops and licenses software for Bluetooth technology that is included in millions of devices produced by companies such as Microsoft, Nike, GoPro and Fitbit.

“The accomplishments of this year’s awardees exemplify the impact UofL graduates have locally, nationally, and globally,” said Josh Hawkins, Assistant Vice President of the Alumni Association. “We are excited to honor Bruce and our 13 alumni fellows because of their countless contributions to both the university and their respective communities.”

Henderson and the Alumni Fellows will be recognized at an event 6 p.m., Oct. 12, at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. Attendees may register .

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Kelsi Worrell, a 2016 graduate and Olympic champion swimmer, will serve as grand marshal for the 2017 Homecoming Parade on Oct. 13. The family-friendly is one of several signature events planned for the week-long “Welcome Home”-themed celebration from Oct. 7-14.

The week also includes several opportunities to give back. Alumni across the country are encouraged to participate in UofL Alumni/Cardinal Day of Service. Volunteer opportunities are available nationwide on Saturday, Oct. 7 through various UofL Alumni councils and chapters. Thanks to a partnership with UofL’s Office of Community Engagement, local alumni can also volunteer at locations across Louisville on Friday, Oct. 6. Register for either date.��

Cardinal supporters can “Raise Some L” during the annual UofL Day of Giving on Oct. 11. The 24-hour call to action helps fund essential areas of need across campus. Become a Raise Some L Ambassador to help spread the word and track your impact.

The Homecoming Golf Scramble tees off Monday, Oct. 9 at the UofL Golf Club in Simpsonville. The scramble is presented by Alumni Association board member and 1993 graduate Chris Puffer of Creative Capital Group.��

Other events for the week include the annual , the Class of 1967 and the Homecoming against Boston College.

For a full schedule of events and registration opportunities, visit the page.��

The fun tees off 10 a.m. Oct. 17 with the Alumni Golf Scramble, which is back after a one-year hiatus at the newly renovated UofL Golf Club in Simpsonville. for both sponsorship and registration information.

The homecoming theme is “Raise Some L,” which coordinates with the , a 24-hour call to action for the Cardinal community to help fund essential student and campus initiatives. The fundraising event is Oct. 18.��

The Homecoming , which starts at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at Cardinal Boulevard and Third Street near Cardinal Towne, will proceed down Third Street and end at Eastern Parkway. Parade-goers will enjoy bands, spirit squads, homecoming court participants and more. For the best view, consider sitting in front of Grawemeyer Hall. Organizations and businesses are encouraged to participate at no charge but must by Oct. 17.

Homecoming also coincides with UofL , a week of events meant to raise awareness for responsible environmental, social and economic stewardship.

Other highlights this year include:

• Oct. 20 – Wilson Wyatt Alumni Awards, cocktail reception at 6 p.m. with dinner and awards ceremony to follow at the Galt House Hotel. The event recognizes outstanding graduates annually with the Alumnus of the Year and Alumni Fellows awards program. The Alumnus of the Year is the highest honor the University of Louisville Alumni bestows. to register and to view award recipients.��
• Oct. 21 – Class of 1966 Golden Alumni Medallion Ceremony at noon. Register .
• Oct. 22 – UofL versus N.C. State football game with kickoff at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium to be announced.

For more information, contact Courtney Spiegel by email or call 852-0093.