Caldwell University’s 2023 June Dwyer Castano Veritas Awards Honored Local Alumni

Pictured above: Left to right: Caldwell University President Matthew Whelan, Mary Sellitto-Curcio ’83,  Sister Mary John Kearney, O.P. ‘62, Nancy Hurtz-Soyka ’70, and Roger Monel ‘00.

Over 200 alumni, supporters, faculty, and staff came out to the Caldwell University 2023 June Dwyer Castano Veritas Awards on April 30, 2023, at Essex Fells Country Club.   The award celebrates Caldwell University alumni’s professional excellence.  

Sister Mary John Kearney, O.P., ’62 professor emerita, received the Excellence in Higher Education award. 

Nancy Hurtz-Soyka ’71 received the Excellence in International Relations award.  

Roger Monel ’00 received the Excellence in Community Activism award. 

Mary Sellitto-Curcio ’83 received the Excellence in Humanitarian Endeavors award. 

Sister Mary John Kearney, O.P. ’62 has dedicated her life to the Catholic Church and her Dominican Community as an educator of students as a teacher, principal, administrator, supervisor, associate professor, and leader among the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, including service on the Caldwell University Board of Trustees.

Nancy Hurtz-Soyka ’71 excelled during a distinguished career with the United Nations in numerous leadership positions, including working with new and junior UN staff and the UN retiree association. Then she pursued a second career in education in the area of ESL (English as a Second Language). 

Mary Sellitto-Curcio ’83 has a lifelong history of New Jersey community involvement, serving on multiple boards, and scholarship committees, and has received numerous awards including the 2021 World Wish Day New Jersey Wish Hero with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She is a longtime member of the Caldwell University Alumni Association Board and is also a University Trustee.

Roger Monel ’00  has nearly six decades in community activism, devoting his time, energy, and passion to improving the quality of life for others through such projects as the “I Make A Difference” Awards Scholarship Fund, Welfare to Work, SHARE Food Program, and the Be An Angel Project.  He is an associate school business administrator for the Irvington Board of Education.