Daemen College celebrated the accomplishments of five exceptional graduates at its 31st annual Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner held on Nov. 3.
At the awards ceremony, Daemen President Gary Olson noted, “As their exceptional achievements clearly demonstrate, our distinguished alums are doing extraordinary things right here in Western New York, throughout the nation, and around the globe. We congratulate this year’s honorees on their many successes.”
The 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, who were selected by the National Alumni Board of Governors, are: Roger Warren Rogers, DO ’98, Advancement in Career; Joanne Angelo Moeller ’64 (posthumously), Dedication to the College; MaggieRiccardi Dreyer ’89, Service to the Community; and Chadwick Hopson ’10, Graduate of the Last Decade.
The celebration concluded with President Olson presenting the Distinguished Alumna Award to Elizabeth George Ivers, ’70. The award, which is the highest honor awarded to a graduate, recognizes a graduate who has achieved distinction in his or her career and in the community and has shown outstanding dedication to the college.
Distinguished Alumna Award
Elizabeth George Ivers ’70
Elizabeth George Ivers earned a bachelor’s degree in history and government from Daemen (Rosary Hill College) and went on to have a successful 43-year career at several major U.S. corporations, including Twin Fair, Inc., in Buffalo, and Houston-based Browning-Ferris Industries and EOG Resources.
Active in the community, she has held leadership roles with the Women’s Resource of Greater Houston, Houston Better Business Bureau, Keep Houston Beautiful, and the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, among other organizations.
Ivers, who resides in Houston, was named to the Academy of Women Achievers by the YWCA of the City of New York and recognized as a Woman on the Move in Houston.
She has been a strong supp orter of the college as a member of the Daemen Alumni Board and also established the Elizabeth George Ivers Endowed Scholarship for Women.
Advancement in Career
Roger Warren Rogers, DO ’98
Roger Warren Rogers is an orthopedic spinal surgeon whose practice is affiliated with Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Daemen, he earned a doctorate in osteopathic medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
During his medical career, Rogers obtained an orthopedic spine fellowship at the Texas Back Spine Institute, and has also worked at Millcreek Hospital, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
A Wheatfield, N.Y. resident, he has received numerous awards in orthopedics, physical therapy, and military service, including two Air Force Commendation Medals.
Dedication to the College
Joanne Angelo Moeller ’64 (posthumously)
Joanne Angelo Moeller’s commitment to her alma mater began soon after graduating from Daemen (then Rosary Hill College), where she received a bachelor’s degree in music.
As an alumna, Moeller remained active with the college, including planning Class of 1964 reunions and attending until her 45th year reunion. She returned oen to visit the college while living in New York, Utah, and Arizona.
A longtime supporter of Daemen, Moeller credited her love for the college with inspiring her to give back to her alma mater. In recognition of these contributions, a group study room in the college’s Research and Information Commons is named for Moeller and her husband, Bill.
Moeller passed away at home on Sept. 14, 2015, in Cottonwood Heights, Utah.
Service to the Community
Maggie Riccardi Dreyer ’89
Maggie Riccardi Dreyer, who earned a bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in psychology from Daemen, is co-founder of the Pathways Supervised Visitation Program and the TSG: Dating afterSexuall Abuse Group Program. She als o ser ves as director of field education at Daemen, and is president and co-founder of Kaely’s Kindness Foundation, a charity dedicated to serving young women diagnosed with cancer.
Dreyer, an Orchard Park, N.Y. resident, has more than 25 years of experience as a clinical so cial worker in Western New York and has served on the Daemen Social Work Advisory Board for over 20 years. Her dedication to the social work profession was recognized with the Humanitarian Award presented by Daemen.
Graduate of the Last Decade
Chadwick Hopson ’10
Chadwick Hops on received bachelor’s degrees in business administration and sport management with a minor in theater arts from Daemen, from where his mother, Margaret Hopson ’82, also graduated.
Hopson’s theater arts minor inspired his passion to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles. He has starred in independent feature films, plays, numerous music videos, and national commercials.
In addition, Hopson co-wrote, produced, and starred in two feature films this year released by his production company, The Knights Young.
Hopson, who resides in Sherman Oaks, Calif., was recognized at the 2017 Uta h Film Awards as Best Leading Actor in a Feature Film for his lead role in the 2016 critically acclaimed film “ The Last Descent.”
More on Chad Hopson may be found in the inaugural Daemen College Under 40 Class story in this issue of Daemen Today.
