Herm Bachrodt and Sister Betty Adams will be awarded honorary degrees

Herm Bachrodt and Betty Adams, ASC A ’61, ’66 will each receive a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa during the Spring 2010 Commencement ceremony May 15. The university bestows the honorary degrees upon notable members of the Newman community based on exemplary dedication to one of the university’s four Core Values: Catholic Identity, Culture of Service, Academic Excellence, and Global Perspective.

Bachrodt was selected for his service and professional and philanthropic support of Catholic education and athletics. He came to Sacred Heart College in 1967 at the request of President Sylvia Gorges, ASC to launch the men’s basketball program. Bachrodt served as Sacred Heart’s first basketball coach and first athletics director, during which time the men’s basketball team earned a berth in the NAIA National Tournament. He previously served as head basketball coach and athletics director at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School, and head basketball coach at St. Mary’s High School in Wichita. He has been a generous benefactor, and in recognition of his gifts Kapaun Mt. Carmel will name its new athletic facility the Coach Herm and Jackie Bachrodt Athletic Complex.

Sister Betty Adams epitomizes the concept of global perspective for the work she has done for Newman and the ASC international community. A graduate of Sacred Heart Academy and Sacred Heart College, Sister Betty was a music teacher and became head of the Music Department at Newman. In the 1980s the ASC called upon her to be province secretary in Wichita, then to teach English in Italy, and learn Italian. Sister Betty, who already knew German, soon realized she was gifted at language and simultaneous translation. She has since mastered Spanish and speaks Croatian. Following a return to Newman as international student coordinator and part-time music teacher, she now serves as translator for the congregation abroad, traveling extensively to facilitate written and verbal communications in a variety of situations.

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