Franciscan University honors alumni

STEUBENVILLE -- Katie (Irvin) Herrmann and John DuBois might have graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville 34 years apart from each other, but the lessons they learned continue to play important roles in their lives.

Herrmann, a 2018 graduate and a practicing attorney in Wheeling, and DuBois, a member of the Class of 1984 and the owner of the Steubenville-based Illumination Financial Group, were among four graduates recognized Friday during the university’s 37th-annual Alumni Awards Banquet and Ceremony.

“There are values that are very often skewed or muddy in the world today,” Herrmann explained before the dinner began at the Christ the Teacher Academic Hall and Pope St. Paul VI Conference Center. “Especially in the legal field, where you are supposed to uphold truth and justice, but a lot of times that’s misinterpreted just to win an argument,

“Franciscan actually teaches those problems and teaches that there is an objective truth, and that we should be aiming toward what is good and what’s right. I think that’s a rare thing nowadays,” she added.

The recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, her ties to the university run deep. Her grandfather, Dr. John Irvin, is a trustee emeritus at the university; her father, Chris Irvin, is a graduate and a current trustee; and her mother, Dr. Joy Irvin, is a graduate and a member of the school’s community relations board.

Her husband, Leo Herrmann, and her in-laws, John and Kelly Herrmann, also are graduates of the school.

A graduate of the Duquesne University School of Law, she is an associate attorney at Steptoe and Johnson, where she concentrates on professional liability and energy litigation.

Herrmann, who graduated from Catholic Central High School, was named in the 2027 rankings for Best Lawyer as one of “America’s Ones to Watch” for energy law. She is the Young Lawyer Board District 1 representative for the west Virginia State Bar and a board member of the Sexual Assault Help Center of the Upper Ohio Valley.

DuBois, the recipient of the Rose M. DeFede Faithful Franciscan Award, came to the university after growing up in New England, and decided to stay in Steubenville after he graduated.

“It was being close to the university, and my wife (Mary DuBois, a longtime teacher in the Catholic school system) was a year behind me in school, so that played a role in it, too. We were engaged at the time,” DuBois said. “Then there were a lot of students who came here from other places and stayed. It was good to have a lot of college friends here, because everybody started raising families together. It was just good.”

His wife grew up in a Navy family and moved around a lot, DuBois said, adding that at the time, her family was in Northern Virginia while his was in Connecticut. Neither wanted to live in either of those expensive places, and that made the affordable Steubenville attractive.

DuBois has remained active at the university, serving as vice president of the university’s alumni board and taking part in panel discussions about on finance, business and related topics.

“There is so much to be said for giving back, because the gift is in the giving,” DuBois explained. “Even with grandchildren -- you give gifts to your grandchildren and they are so appreciative and so happy, and you see the joy. When you are able to help other people and you see their joy and you see their relief that they are happy you are helping them out, it’s just very rewarding.

“There’s a lot to be said for being able to give back, and we are blessed in return,” he added.

For the Rev. Dave Pivonka, TOR, the annual alumni dinner remains special.

“One of the greatest things, from my perspective, is to be able to spend time with our alumni who are doing really, really great work,” Pivonka said. “The recipients this year are all making an impact and doing great jobs in their field and with the work they are doing, and also with faith and integrity. It’s a great night to celebrate.”

A 1989 graduate of the university, Pivonka said being able to maintain close relationships with graduates is important.

“Katie was a student when I was a young priest, and some of the others were classmates of mine,” he said. “I have been a part of the community here for almost 40 years now, so that’s a lot of people.

Also recognized Friday evening were Dr. Greg Bottaro, the recipient of the Father Dan Egan Award in Health Care, and Matthew Schlater, the recipient of the Bishop John King Mussio Award.

A member of the Class of 2003, Bottaro is the founder of the CatholicPsych Institute and creator of the CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism.

An owner and partner of Jones-Schlater Flooring who works for Columbus Investment Advisory, Schlater is a member of the Class of 2004. A father of 10, Schlater is chairman of Damascus, which he and his wife, Ginny, worked with others to begin a Catholic summer camp mission. He was chief operating officer of the Diocese of Columbus from 2021 to 2024 and helped to implement the New Evangelization in the diocese. Since 2024, he has been an adviser to Bishop Earl Fernandes and a member of the Diocesan Financial Council.

In March, he received the pontifical Benemerenti Medal.

The event was part of the school’s Homecoming Weekend, which will continue Saturday and Sunday.