The Distinguished Alumna Award Winners

Beaumont women are changing the world in every imaginable field and service. The Beaumont Distinguished Alumna Award is a prestigious honor awarded to those who have distinguished themselves through their work and service in the spirit of St. Angela Merici. 

2026 Distinguished Alumna Award Winners

View awards photos here!

Congratulations 2026 Distinguished Alumnae Award Winners: Ann DeCain Blackham '45 (deceased) award accepted on her behalf by her son Bill Blackham, Eileen Drage O'Reilly '86, Sister Anne Marie Diederich, OSU '61, Rita Murphy Carfagna '71.

Ann DeCain Blackham’45 (deceased)

Ann DeCain Blackham ‘45 (deceased) was a trailblazer in business, politics, and women’s advocacy. Ann’s 94 years included advising governors and presidents while championing equal rights and opportunities for working women. Earning her college degree in 1949, Ann became a wife and mother, relocating to Winchester, Massachusetts.

As her children entered school in the late 1950’s, she embarked on an over six decades long career and legacy that included in the 1960’s opening her own real estate business after an unsuccessful run for the Massachusetts State Senate as a Republican during the Kennedy era in a heavily Democratic state, leadership roles in the National Federation of Republican Women, appointment to the Board of Economic Advisors to the Governor of Massachusetts and membership on the President’s National Task Force on Women’s Rights and Responsibilities, and on the National Defense Advisory Commission on Women in Service for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Rare for women in 1974, she became a trustee of Charlestown Savings Bank, serving for thirteen years, and in 1984 became Chair of the Board of the Massachusetts Registration of Real Estate Brokers, serving until 2011 under four different governors. Ann was appointed a delegate to the Republican National Convention 7 consecutive times. In conjunction with a Presidential advisory role, she supported the installation of the first childcare facility in a U.S. Government building, constructed in the basement of the U.S. Department of Labor.

More than just her exceptional individual accomplishments, Ann represented the best of Beaumont by her ongoing commitment to helping other women with her time, financial resources, and considerable connections locally and nationally, while personally becoming an inspiration for women in three generations of her family. She not only excelled in her chosen path but also made a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of others, reflecting the Ursuline values that remain at the heart of our community.

Sister Anne Marie Diederich, OSU ’61

Sister Anne Marie Diederich, OSU ‘61, dedicated the first 20 years of her Ursuline ministry to secondary education, serving as both an instructor and an administrator at Beaumont and Villa Angela Academy. She moved into higher education, serving as President of Ursuline College from 1986 to 1996. She dedicated a decade to shaping the future of holistic education, leadership, and service. Her wisdom and guidance influenced countless students’ lives, empowering them to lead with purpose and compassion.

Following her time at Ursuline College, she discerned a call to the ministry of Spiritual Care, and earned certification in Spiritual Companioning from the Institute of Spiritual Leadership in Chicago. She served in renewal centers in New Hampshire and Minnesota, at Regina Health Center, and as Director of Mission Integration at Laurel Lake Retirement Community for twelve years.

The embodiment of lifelong learning, she holds a BA in English and Secondary Education from Ursuline College, an MA in Secondary Education Administration and Supervision from John Caroll, a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Leadership from Ohio State, and an additional certification from The Sacred Art of Living and Dying Program, Bend, Oregon. Sister served multiple stints on the Beaumont Board of Directors, most recently from 2022 to 2025.

Rita Murphy Carfagna ’71

Rita Murphy Carfagna, a proud member of the Class of 1971, is a deeply mission-centered woman whose leadership is collaborative, intentional, and grounded in the Gospel. When we think of those who embody the teachings of St. Angela and St. Ignatius, we think of Rita—someone who allows the person of Jesus Christ to be a guiding light in relationships and service to others.

Over the years, Rita has served in various volunteer capacities, including on the Boards of Directors of Beaumont School, Saint Ignatius High School, Ruffing Montessori School, the Jesuit Retreat Center, America Media, and the Catholic Community Foundation.

Rita’s own pivotal experience with Ignatian Spirituality led her to become certified as a Spiritual Director through the Ignatian Spirituality Institute at John Carroll. Whether by leading parish retreats or meeting with individuals in spiritual direction, she has enjoyed helping others come to know the good news of Jesus Christ through the good news of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She embodies the very best of what it means to be a Beaumont woman, reflecting St. Angela’s counsel that “you have more need to serve others than they have to be served”.

Rita and her husband, Peter, have been married for 50 years and have four children and ten grandchildren. They are lifelong members of the Church of Saint Dominic.

Eileen Drage O’Reilly ‘86

Eileen Drage O’Reilly ‘86 brings a mission-centered approach to leadership in journalism, media literacy, and advocacy for the First Amendment. She is the Head of Standards and AI Practices at Axios, served as President of the National Press Club in 2023, and will be honored with a Prize of Excellence Award from the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents – USA later this year.

Eileen has more than 30 years of experience across the U.S., Asia and Europe, with expertise spanning newsroom standards, AI practices, investigations, international affairs, public policy and press freedom. She is also committed to strengthening local journalism, addressing news deserts, and supporting the next generation of journalists.

Eileen earned a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University and an M.A. in Asia-Pacific studies from the University of Leeds. Her foundation in Beaumont's Ursuline tradition, together with the Jesuit emphasis on educating the whole person, helped shape the values she brings to journalism: a commitment to truth, intellectual curiosity and a drive for excellence.

Honoring A Few of Our Many Distinguished Alumna Award Winners

2026
Ann DeCain Blackham ‘45 (deceased)
Sister Anne Marie Diederich, OSU ‘61
Rita Murphy Carfagna ‘71
Eileen Drage O’Reilly ‘86

2025
Ellen Proctor ’60*
Sister Ritamary Welsh, OSU ’63
Sister Gretchen Rodenfels, OSU ’65
Loretta Randle O’Brien-Parham ’70

2022
Meg Taylor Reusch, Ph.D. ’88

2019
Dr. Rita Hanna Pappas ’84

2018
Noreen Friend Fraser ‘71*

2016
Katherine Holzheimer ’71
Jessica Price Smith ’90

2014
Mary Deucher Fuerst ’57
Sharon Latkovich Valente ’75
Erika Ames Owens ’89

2013
Kathleen Gang Rini ’65
Eileen Ramerman Smotzer ’76
Johanna Keenan Henz ’92

2012
Dorothy Janusko Valerian ’62
Rosemary Leone Nemeth ’78
Mary Stevenson ’78

2011
Joan Broglio Kimmel ‘58*
The Honorable Melody Stewart ‘80
Dr. Molly McMahon Yohann ‘84

2010
Carolyn Hafele Kondrat ’65
Sister Maria Cimperman, OSU ’83
Colleen Connell ’94

2009
Nancy Graf ’54*
Kathleen Walton Monahan ’79
Marianne Rocco Walton ’57

2007
Megs Gallagher ’48*
Sr. Roberta Goebel, OSU ’62*
Marg Martin Paulett ’46*

2005
Carol Jean Gilles ‘49*
Nancy Kelley McLaughlin ’74
Elizabeth Porter ‘83*

2003
Margaret Pigott Flynn ’77
Nancy Bochin Hinds ’62
Marlene Tighe ’56*

2001
Terry Trivison Ford ‘49*
Sister Margaret Ann Kelley, OSU ’49*
Mary Ann B. Kinney ’57
Capricia Penavic Marshall ’82
Rosanne O’Neill Plent ’48*

*Denotes Deceased

Distinguished Alumna Award Nomination