Lisa Meekins
Photo by: Chelsea Nicholson
Creighton Hosts 17th Leaders For Life Luncheon
5/6/2022 6:45:00 PM | Creighton Athletics, Women's Cross Country / Track, Rowing, General, Ath. Development
Mary Pat McCormick and Lisa Meekins were honored with the Believe and Achieve and Leader for Life Awards.
OMAHA, Neb. -- Mary Pat McCormick and Lisa Meekins were among those recognized earlier today by Creighton Athletics at the 17th Annual Leaders for Life Luncheon held at D.J. Sokol Arena inside the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center.
The Leaders for Life Luncheon is an annual fundraising event that celebrates Creighton's female student-athletes, and allows those student-athletes the opportunity to thank the supporters of women's athletics who make it possible to compete in the BIG EAST and at the NCAA Division I level. All Leaders for Life gifts support female student-athletes, including Leaders for Life scholarship funds and leadership development programs that ensure we can educate, develop and graduate outstanding female student-athletes. Additionally, this Luncheon provides Creighton Athletics an occasion to honor two influential supporters of women's athletics for their continued leadership and advancement at Creighton and among the community. More than $225,000 was raised at this year's event, bringing the total raised over the years well past $1 million.
Today's event also begins Creighton's plan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the landmark Title IX legislation from June of 1972. It also featured the public unveiling of https://www.creightontitleix.com, a website that highlights some of the key moments in the history of Creighton Women's Athletics.
Creighton Athletics has partnered with Borsheims on this unique campaign which will highlight the significant impact that Title IX has had on our women's programs, coaches and student-athletes over the last 50 years. The partnership demonstrates Borsheims' dedication to not only give back to their community but to encourage young girls and women to stay focused on their goals and trailblaze for their future.
"We are thrilled to partner with Creighton University on the 50th anniversary of Title IX," said Borsheims CEO & President Karen Goracke. "It's a natural partnership for us that demonstrates our dedication to empowering women and encouraging them to break boundaries in pursuit of their dreams."
Mary Higgins, a pioneer for women's sports at Creighton in the 1970s as an undergraduate student, once again served as emcee for the Leaders For Life event.
"To say we've come a long way is a laughable understatement," noted Higgins. "Less you doubt the impact of Title IX…before its passage, Creighton had NO women's sports…..no teams, no facilities, no uniforms….no coaches…nada, zero!"
Mary Pat McCormick was chosen to receive the Believe and Achieve Award. McCormick, BS'62 is a native of Denver, Colo., and Carmel, Calif., and graduated from Creighton in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and from the University of Denver, MLS, 1993. She also was certified from the Catholic Biblical School, Archdiocese of Denver. Her community service has an emphasis on children, education and mental health. Mary Pat served on the Board of Birthright Fargo, The St. Joseph Hospital Service League and Creighton's National Alumni Board, Omaha; Mount St. Vincent Children's Home, Third Way Center, the Denver Zoo, Arrupe Jesuit High School and Regis University, Denver. In addition, she is an active docent and research editor at the Carmel Mission and has co-authored the book Art from the Carmel Mission, a compilation of its art and history.
Lisa Meekins was recognized with the Leaders for Life Award. Meekins, BSBA'02 is a native of Superior, Neb., and resident of Chicago, Ill. She was a member of the Creighton University volleyball team from 1998-01 before graduating from Creighton in 2002 with a BSBA in Finance. She continued her education receiving her Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas in 2005 and her Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from Northwestern University in 2006. Lisa is a Principal in the Mergers & Acquisitions Tax Practice in the Chicago office of KPMG, LLP where she has practiced for more than 15 years. Within the Chicago community, Lisa is active in Special Olympics of Illinois, Habitat for Humanity, and the American Heart Association. She is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern's School of Law and a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Lisa has also remained dedicated to the success of the Creighton Volleyball program and attends home and away matches as frequently as she can.
Angel Hill, a junior on the rowing team, received the Dr. Melissa Kean Endowed Scholarship. Junior Ashley Riley of the women's cross country team received the Leaders for Life Endowed Scholarship. Both awards are for the 2022-23 academic year.
Kara Kelley served as the committee chair for the 2022 Leaders for Life event, with Gail Werner-Robertson serving as honorary chair. Also on the committee are Jane Alseth, Michelle Cannella, Lisa Chipps, Aimee Demulling, Emily Flanery, Shelley Guthrie Gates, Julie Hefflinger, Stephanie Kremla Heng, Deb Macdonald, Pat Manion, Anne McGuire, Brandy Menaugh, Lauren Miltenberger, Karen Nelsen, Judy Pritza, Erin Swanson Russell, Patsy Sumner and Molly Zabrowski.
Annually held each May, Leaders for Life is a fundraiser for annual and endowed scholarships that directly increase the tuition assistance for outstanding female student-athletes. To support Leaders for Life with a donation, please CLICK HERE.
ALL-TIME RECIPIENTS LEADER FOR LIFE AWARD
OLIVE ODORISIO CIRCO 2006
CAROL KETCHAM 2007
MARY HIGGINS 2008
ROSEMARY GROSS 2009
CONNIE RYAN 2010
CONNIE YORI 2011
HEIDI GEIER WOODARD 2012
PAM GRADOVILLE SIMON 2013
ERIN SWANSON RUSSELL 2014
TANYA WARREN 2015
KIRSTEN BERNTHAL BOOTH 2016
JUDY PRITZA 2017
SHANNON HOOS-THOMPSON 2018
SHARON HANSON 2019
LISA CHIPPS 2020
LAURA BAKER 2021
LISA MEEKINS 2022
ALL-TIME RECIPIENTS BELIEVE & ACHIEVE AWARD
LISA ROSKENS 2012
DEB MACDONALD 2013
VAL ACKERMAN 2014
GAIL WERNER-ROBERTSON 2015
MELISSA KEAN 2016
RHONDA HAWKS 2017
DOROTHY NIPP 2018
RUTH SCOTT 2019
ANNE MCGUIRE 2020
JOSIE ABBOUD 2021
MARY PAT MCCORMICK 2022
The Leaders for Life Luncheon is an annual fundraising event that celebrates Creighton's female student-athletes, and allows those student-athletes the opportunity to thank the supporters of women's athletics who make it possible to compete in the BIG EAST and at the NCAA Division I level. All Leaders for Life gifts support female student-athletes, including Leaders for Life scholarship funds and leadership development programs that ensure we can educate, develop and graduate outstanding female student-athletes. Additionally, this Luncheon provides Creighton Athletics an occasion to honor two influential supporters of women's athletics for their continued leadership and advancement at Creighton and among the community. More than $225,000 was raised at this year's event, bringing the total raised over the years well past $1 million.
Today's event also begins Creighton's plan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the landmark Title IX legislation from June of 1972. It also featured the public unveiling of https://www.creightontitleix.com, a website that highlights some of the key moments in the history of Creighton Women's Athletics.
Creighton Athletics has partnered with Borsheims on this unique campaign which will highlight the significant impact that Title IX has had on our women's programs, coaches and student-athletes over the last 50 years. The partnership demonstrates Borsheims' dedication to not only give back to their community but to encourage young girls and women to stay focused on their goals and trailblaze for their future.
"We are thrilled to partner with Creighton University on the 50th anniversary of Title IX," said Borsheims CEO & President Karen Goracke. "It's a natural partnership for us that demonstrates our dedication to empowering women and encouraging them to break boundaries in pursuit of their dreams."
Mary Higgins, a pioneer for women's sports at Creighton in the 1970s as an undergraduate student, once again served as emcee for the Leaders For Life event.
"To say we've come a long way is a laughable understatement," noted Higgins. "Less you doubt the impact of Title IX…before its passage, Creighton had NO women's sports…..no teams, no facilities, no uniforms….no coaches…nada, zero!"
Mary Pat McCormick was chosen to receive the Believe and Achieve Award. McCormick, BS'62 is a native of Denver, Colo., and Carmel, Calif., and graduated from Creighton in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and from the University of Denver, MLS, 1993. She also was certified from the Catholic Biblical School, Archdiocese of Denver. Her community service has an emphasis on children, education and mental health. Mary Pat served on the Board of Birthright Fargo, The St. Joseph Hospital Service League and Creighton's National Alumni Board, Omaha; Mount St. Vincent Children's Home, Third Way Center, the Denver Zoo, Arrupe Jesuit High School and Regis University, Denver. In addition, she is an active docent and research editor at the Carmel Mission and has co-authored the book Art from the Carmel Mission, a compilation of its art and history.
Lisa Meekins was recognized with the Leaders for Life Award. Meekins, BSBA'02 is a native of Superior, Neb., and resident of Chicago, Ill. She was a member of the Creighton University volleyball team from 1998-01 before graduating from Creighton in 2002 with a BSBA in Finance. She continued her education receiving her Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas in 2005 and her Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from Northwestern University in 2006. Lisa is a Principal in the Mergers & Acquisitions Tax Practice in the Chicago office of KPMG, LLP where she has practiced for more than 15 years. Within the Chicago community, Lisa is active in Special Olympics of Illinois, Habitat for Humanity, and the American Heart Association. She is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern's School of Law and a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Lisa has also remained dedicated to the success of the Creighton Volleyball program and attends home and away matches as frequently as she can.
Angel Hill, a junior on the rowing team, received the Dr. Melissa Kean Endowed Scholarship. Junior Ashley Riley of the women's cross country team received the Leaders for Life Endowed Scholarship. Both awards are for the 2022-23 academic year.
Video from earlier today, when @ashlriley was presented with a Leaders for Life Endowed Scholarship! #LeadersForLife #BuildABetterBlue pic.twitter.com/u2l7q3lV7Z— Creighton XC (@CreightonXC) May 6, 2022
Video from earlier today, when @Angelicaspeaks_ was surprised with the Dr. Melissa Kean Endowed Scholarship!#LeadersForLife #BuildABetterBlue pic.twitter.com/IuZuxySIBl— Creighton Rowing (@RowJays) May 6, 2022
Kara Kelley served as the committee chair for the 2022 Leaders for Life event, with Gail Werner-Robertson serving as honorary chair. Also on the committee are Jane Alseth, Michelle Cannella, Lisa Chipps, Aimee Demulling, Emily Flanery, Shelley Guthrie Gates, Julie Hefflinger, Stephanie Kremla Heng, Deb Macdonald, Pat Manion, Anne McGuire, Brandy Menaugh, Lauren Miltenberger, Karen Nelsen, Judy Pritza, Erin Swanson Russell, Patsy Sumner and Molly Zabrowski.
Annually held each May, Leaders for Life is a fundraiser for annual and endowed scholarships that directly increase the tuition assistance for outstanding female student-athletes. To support Leaders for Life with a donation, please CLICK HERE.
ALL-TIME RECIPIENTS LEADER FOR LIFE AWARD
OLIVE ODORISIO CIRCO 2006
CAROL KETCHAM 2007
MARY HIGGINS 2008
ROSEMARY GROSS 2009
CONNIE RYAN 2010
CONNIE YORI 2011
HEIDI GEIER WOODARD 2012
PAM GRADOVILLE SIMON 2013
ERIN SWANSON RUSSELL 2014
TANYA WARREN 2015
KIRSTEN BERNTHAL BOOTH 2016
JUDY PRITZA 2017
SHANNON HOOS-THOMPSON 2018
SHARON HANSON 2019
LISA CHIPPS 2020
LAURA BAKER 2021
LISA MEEKINS 2022
ALL-TIME RECIPIENTS BELIEVE & ACHIEVE AWARD
LISA ROSKENS 2012
DEB MACDONALD 2013
VAL ACKERMAN 2014
GAIL WERNER-ROBERTSON 2015
MELISSA KEAN 2016
RHONDA HAWKS 2017
DOROTHY NIPP 2018
RUTH SCOTT 2019
ANNE MCGUIRE 2020
JOSIE ABBOUD 2021
MARY PAT MCCORMICK 2022
Players Mentioned
/ Rowing
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
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