alumni

WJ MANRESA AWARD

Gerry Rardin '72

The Manresa Award is WJ's highest award named for the city where St. Ignatius authored the Spiritual Exercises, the Jesuit retreat manual that serves as the basis for the student Kairos retreat.

Gerry Rardin '72 has been on the WJ campus since the fall of 1968 - that’s 53 years of Warrior spirit for a man who exemplifies it as well as anyone. Gerry and his wife Jan, married 42 years, are the proud parents of three alums: Stefanie ’02, Abby ’03, and David ’07. He is the also grandfather of five and soon to be, six future Warriors.

After being a star running back at Walsh Jesuit and continuing to play football at Akron University, Gerry began his coaching career under Bill Ricco's staff and teaching Spanish at WJ. His students will confess they might not be fluent in Spanish, but they know a man who cared deeply for them during challenging times as they were growing up.

Many know him as an amazing head football coach. Gerry is 22nd in Ohio all time for wins and has been named National Coach of the Year by the NFL. He is a coach who clearly knew the game well and knew when a player needed to be supported or challenged to improve.

His care for his fellow staff members can still bring tears to their eyes as they talk about the loyalty he exudes in his mentor-ship. It is alway a joy to behold the love for Gerry in the voices of his past players, whether they started or sat, whether they played for all four years or just one.

"I remember him coming to me after 35 years as head coach - the youngest, winningest and longest-serving in WJ history - that it was time to make a change. He took on perhaps the most demanding job in the building as Dean of Students calling upon his experience in the classroom and on the field. He is as fine a Dean as anyone can find and exhibits an openness to growth that we look to instill in all of our students." - Karl Ertle

On behalf of the thousands of Warriors you have taught and coached here, it is an honor to thank you for your lifelong commitment and celebrate you with the 2021 Manresa Award.

alumni features

Tania Nemer '97

Tania Nemer serves as the community outreach prosecutor for The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office. Nemer has spent the greater part of her career primarily practicing immigration and criminal law. In her current role, she litigates criminal cases and educates the community through speaking engagements and outreach advocacy. "I am a child of Lebanese-American immigrants. I grew up in a home full of diversity and a huge family that inevitably experienced adversity. Even as a child, I’ve always had a burning desire to help people solve their problems... That is key to what lawyers do; we are problem solvers. Individuals walk into our offices when they sometimes are at their lowest or most vulnerable, and it is our job to think outside the box for solutions to address their needs while upholding the ideals of the larger community." When asked about her greatest accomplishment: "One of the hardest, but most rewarding accomplishments in my career was working at the United States-Mexico border representing women and children detained in Texas. It was certainly a profound privilege to work with them. The women I met experienced so much and turned to our great nation for refuge and guidance. I did my small part to help give them the chance to raise their children in peace, and I have been able to use my experiences as teachable moments for my children and other kids to not take our lives for granted. I have gone back, and I hope to again in the future."

Nemer recently authored the article, “Criminal and Immigration Laws: The Lines and The Lives They Cross.”

Robert J. Nemer '86

An attorney by education and entrepreneur by trade, Robert J. (R.J.) Nemer was selected as the new dean of The University of Akron (UA) College of Business. In this role, Nemer will provide executive oversight of the day-to-day operations of the College, including increasing enrollment, enhancing student outcomes, improving faculty relations and attracting a diverse student body. “It’s an incredible honor and opportunity to be the next dean of the College of Business,” said Nemer. “My time at The University of Akron was an integral part of my growth, both professionally and personally. I look forward to engaging with our students and the business community in order to continue to build on the success of our nationally ranked graduate and undergraduate programs.” Nemer is a long-time active member of the community, having served on the boards of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. Currently, he serves on the executive board of the Northern Ohio Section of the PGA of America, and is a newly appointed board member for the First Tee of Akron and the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the 50 Club of Cleveland and co-chairs and participates in numerous charitable and philanthropic endeavors locally and nationally.

Alexandria Skowronski recently won first place in the prestigious 2021 Hearst National Journalism award in Photojournalism. 211 photo entries were submitted in the 20202021 News & Features and Picture Story/ Series competitions. The top winners of those competitions qualified for the Hearst Journalism Awards National Championship. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Championship was held virtually this year. Finalists met their judges on Zoom and fulfilled their assignments from home. The assignment was "to document the new normal that represents the American experience in 8-10 images. All of the last year and a half events have come together to create the chaotic normalcy of the world we live in today." Skowronski's first-place finished earned her a scholarship of $10,000.

2 of Skowronski's 8 winning photos

The Riley Family

Growing up in Akron, Walsh Jesuit alumni, Trumaine '02 and Truvonte '10, along with sister Tia Riley, learned the importance of giving back to their community from their parents who volunteered their time organizing pee wee football games and cheerleading events at Patterson Park. "Not only were we teammates with these kids, we were almost growing up with them like siblings— like brothers and sisters— because our parents were so heavily involved with them," Tia Riley said. As they got older, the siblings were drawn to careers filled with people who pride themselves on a brotherhood and sisterhood— first responders. Trumaine Riley led the way. He has been an Akron police officer for eight years after moving back home from North Carolina where he started his career in law enforcement. "Even as a youngster, I wanted to be a role model for my siblings, so I wanted to be able to take strides and do things first and show them that it was possible." Truvonte Riley followed his big brother's footsteps and joined the force two years ago. "I've always wanted to be like my older brother. He has been great. He was the first child, so he's always been a positive role model to look up to," he said. "My class was the class that was called the COVID class. While we we're going through our academy, that's when COVID happened," Riley said. "I think one of the hardest things is just relating to people with a mask on, but it is what it is. We have to stay safe and keep the community safe." Not to be outdone by her brothers, Tia Riley made the decision about five years ago to become an Akron firefighter. Riley, who is small in stature, believes she makes a big impression on young girls when they find out what she does for a living. "They would get so excited like, "You're a firefighter?" And, I'm like, yeah, I fight fires," Riley said. "I'm actually the one on the tip. I spray out the fire." Trumaine and Truvonte Riley also stressed the importance of interacting with kids while on the job. "Since I've been in the department, I've done a bunch of community relations projects with the kids. I've gone sledding down Goodyear Metro Park with some kids, so it's a great opportunity to be out there in the community," Truvonte Riley said. The "three T's" said they're proud of their dedication to serving—- instilled in them at a young age— and honored to help protect the city they love. "We are here for you. You can always call us."

Sources: "Robert J. Nemer named dean of University of Akron College of Business" The University of Akron