Honoring accomplished Alumni & Friends in 2022
At our Awards Night 2022 in May, we celebrated 13 of our most accomplished alumni and friends for their professional achievement, humanitarian and public service, volunteerism, and dedication to students, CALES, and the University of Arizona.
Mary Lou Rosales
Extensionist of the Year
For her lifetime of service and compassion and support for Cooperative Extension
Mary Lou, executive director of Community Action Human Resource Agency, is a pillar for supportive resources to low-income families in Pinal County. Mary Lou’s vision and leadership have helped Cooperative Extension serve vulnerable people with such projects as parent education and food security assistance.
The Whitehurst Family
Heritage Family Award
For their long-standing commitment to agriculture in Arizona and unwavering support of CALES and UArizona
The Whitehurst family has impacted Arizona’s dairy industry since the 1950s. Their Wildcat tradition began with Jim, who graduated from CALES. His three children, Kevin, Ryan, and Sarah, also hold degrees from the university. They have supported CALES and served on the Alumni Council Board of Directors over the past decade.
Jose Bernal
Arizona Alumni Sidney S. Wood Alumni Service Award
For his unwavering loyalty to CALES and UArizona
Jose is a pillar in the agricultural education profession, with hundreds of Arizona ag teachers benefiting from his mentoring and support. He has supported CALES through his work on the Alumni Council Board of Directors and involvement with the Farm Bureau, Arizona Department of Agriculture, Cattle Growers, among others.
Robert (Bobby) Wuertz
Early Achiever Award
For his commitment to the agricultural industry, volunteerism, and support of CALES and UArizona
Bobby is part of a four-generation cotton farming family who continues that legacy as the head advisor for the agriculture land team of the Land Advisors Organization. He is a founding member and current president of the Pinal 40 Organization. For CALES, he serves on the AG 100 Council and is a past member of the Alumni Council Board of Directors.
Kathleen Duncan
Arizona Alumni Leo B. Hart Humanitarian Award
For her compassion and dedication to improving the lives of those less fortunate
Kathleen is the founder and leader of a growing non-profit. She is working to design and implement an English-as-a-second-language curriculum that will empower low-income students to access higher education, gain employment,
and break the cycle of poverty.
Robert Swift
Friend of CALES Award
For his innovative approach to financial education
Robert founded TCI Wealth Advisors and a financial literacy non-profit that helps people improve financial security and wellbeing through education and beneficial planning. An ardent advocate of the Personal and Family Financial Planning program, Robert was instrumental in moving it from idea to strong academic program.
Karen Conde
CALES Alumni Achievement Award
For her achievements in retail, as an entrepreneur and service to others
Karen is founder and CEO of a global professional staffing firm specializing in information technology. She develops leaders of tomorrow as a motivational speaker and mentor of young adults and supports the university and community through work with the Norton Advisory Board, Catholic Community Foundation, and Fund Your Future.
Sue Wells
CALES Alumni Achievement Award
For her contributions advancing hospice and palliative care, positively impacting thousands
Founder of Wells Consulting Services Inc., Sue is an expert in hospice and palliative care. She helped draft California hospice standards and chaired the legislative committee that implemented the California Hospice Licensing Law. After retirement, Sue became a volunteer with the Norton School Council of Alumni and Friends.
Monica Laudermilk
Outstanding Achiever Award
For her achievements in health and wellness research and commitment to empowering the underserved
Monica is responsible for oversight and execution of research and partnerships at EXOS. Her research involves wearable technology, sensor validation, remote monitoring, and more to help communities maximize performance and quality of life, and prevent chronic disease.
Robert (Tom) Jones
Arizona Alumni Bear Down Award
For his lifetime of service advocating for CALES, UArizona, and land-grant universities
Tom’s leadership and public service includes education, agriculture, electric power, politics, and legislative advocacy. He served as president of the Alumni Council Board of Directors, is current president of the Ag 100 Council, and played a pivotal role in establishing the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Patricia Wild
Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award
For her work on behalf of education and support of CALES and UArizona
With passion for and commitment to career and technical education and family and consumer sciences education, Patricia was instrumental in developing national standards and leading curriculum development for programs to educate future leaders.
Gordon Erickson
Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award
For his service to the retailing industry, the Norton School, and UArizona
Gordon, a retailing executive, established the Walmart and Home Depot internship programs with the Norton School’s retailing and consumer science major; the programs continue to this day. He has launched two companies since retirement and supports UArizona students through his scholarship endowment.
Michael Ames
Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award
For his lifetime of service to the veterinary profession and UArizona
Michael was instrumental in creating a professional veterinary program for Arizona through his service on the CALES advisory committee, culminating in the UArizona College of Veterinary Medicine. He also founded and operated the Animal Health Care Center and Ames Diversified Services.