Alumni Awards

Distinguished Service Award

Cathy (Urbain) Penn ’79  | 2026 Award Recipient

Cathy (Urbain) Penn ’79 dedicated her career to advancing the nursing profession through clinical excellence, educational leadership, and compassionate service. For more than four decades, she impacted the lives of patients, families, healthcare professionals, and nursing students through her commitment to high-quality care and lifelong learning.

Cathy began her nursing career at UnityPoint St. Luke’s Hospital, where she served for 47 years in a variety of clinical, educational, and leadership roles. In 1998, she became a full-time nursing faculty member at Mount Mercy while continuing to work part-time at St. Luke’s. 

Inspired early in her education by the study of anatomy and neuroscience under Sister Rebecca Fidler, she found her professional niche in neurologic, critical care, and rehabilitation nursing. Her clinical expertise included caring for individuals recovering from spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, and other complex neurological conditions, always with a focus on holistic, family-centered care.

During her 36 years in nursing education, Cathy taught more than 2,000 pre-licensure nursing students, helping prepare future nurses through courses in foundations of nursing, nursing skills, physical assessment, adult medical-surgical nursing, community health, and critical care. She served on the Department of Nursing’s Program Evaluation Committee throughout her faculty career and helped lead accreditation and reaccreditation efforts for the university’s BSN, MSN, and DNP programs. She also dedicated more than 16 years to the Promotion and Tenure Committee, helping recognize and support excellence in teaching and scholarship across the university.

Throughout her distinguished career, Cathy served as a nurse manager, clinical nurse specialist, nurse educator, and quality improvement leader. She led interdisciplinary healthcare teams, strengthened patient care systems, and guided quality and performance improvement initiatives that enhanced outcomes for patients and families. Her leadership extended to accreditation and regulatory efforts, including participation in CARF rehabilitation certifications, the Joint Commission surveys, and UnityPoint St. Luke’s initial Magnet Hospital designation, where she helped develop evidence-based practice skills among nursing staff. According to Cathy, the guiding belief that shaped her career is, “Serve others. Listen. Pause. Clarify. Be humble. Learn from others.”

In addition, she facilitated support groups for individuals and families following spinal cord injuries, served as president of the Greater Iowa Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, and represented healthcare professionals as District 2 Representative for the Iowa Association for Healthcare Quality. At Mount Mercy, she also organized the beloved TableTops on the Hilltop fundraiser from 2002 to 2009, bringing together community members, artists, and supporters to celebrate and advance nursing education.

Cathy was granted Professor Emeritus status by the University Board of Trustees in 2026. That same year, she was honored as a Great Iowa Nurses and received Mount Mercy’s Distinguished Service Award, recognizing her lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and professional excellence.

After retiring from full-time teaching in 2026, Cathy continues to serve both Mount Mercy and the nursing profession through adjunct instruction, part-time clinical practice at UnityPoint St. Luke’s Hospital, and service on the board of Great Iowa Nurses. Her enduring legacy lives on through the thousands of students she has mentored, the patients and families she has served, and the countless healthcare professionals she has inspired to pursue excellence with compassion.

Professional Achievement Award

Mary (Kafer) Klaus ’88 | 2026 Award Recipient

As a Mount Mercy alumna and accomplished software engineer, Mary (Kafer) Klaus ’88 has demonstrated how curiosity, determination, and expertise can lead to extraordinary professional achievement. Over the course of her career, she has contributed to groundbreaking aerospace and defense technologies while earning a reputation for excellence in software development and innovation. Mary says Mount Mercy was the catalyst to her success.

Scholarships and financial support provided by the school enabled her to earn her degree, while making connections that charted the course for her professional career. A part-time opportunity eventually led to full-time employment and 12 years working in avionics at Rockwell, before later moving on to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, one of the nation’s leading aerospace, defense, and security companies.

Today, she serves as a Software Engineer Senior Staff at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. During her 26 years with the organization, Mary has played a key role in developing software systems that support the safety and success of military personnel around the globe.

For the past 24 years, Mary and her team have been instrumental in the development of cockpit display systems for the F-35 Lightning II, the most advanced stealth fighter aircraft in operation today. Used by the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the F-35 relies on sophisticated technology to provide pilots with critical information during flight. Mary’s expertise in software programming, testing, and systems integration has helped ensure the accuracy, reliability, and effectiveness of the aircraft’s display systems and helmet symbology.

Mary’s success reflects a combination of intellectual curiosity, perseverance, and a commitment to continuous learning. These qualities have allowed her to thrive in an ever-evolving industry, and as technology has advanced throughout her career, Mary has remained at the forefront of innovation.

While her professional accomplishments are impressive, Mary has also remained deeply connected to her alma mater. She continues to support Mount Mercy University through scholarship contributions and by sharing her experiences with current students. Her willingness to speak with students about careers in technology and engineering provides valuable insight and encouragement for the next generation of professionals entering the field.

Mary’s ongoing engagement with Mount Mercy reflects her belief in the transformative power of education and mentorship. By giving back to the university community, she helps students see the possibilities that can emerge from a strong educational foundation and a willingness to pursue ambitious goals. Her expertise, leadership, and dedication to advancing critical technology have strengthened national defense capabilities and serve as an inspiration to alumni, students, and colleagues alike.

Misericordiae Award

Katie Kielkucki '06 | 2026 Award Recipient

Service has been the defining theme of Katie Kielkucki’s ’06 life and career. Since graduating from Mount Mercy with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, she has dedicated herself to caring for patients, mentoring young people, and strengthening her community through faith-based leadership and volunteer service.

Her passion for service began early. Raised in a family deeply involved in Catholic education, church ministry, and community service, Katie learned from a young age that helping others was simply a way of life. That foundation shaped her commitment to serving wherever she was needed and inspired a lifelong dedication to faith, leadership, and community engagement.

Katie currently works as a nurse at Mayo Clinic, serves as the Youth Ministry Coordinator for Holy Trinity and Holy Family parishes in Minnesota, and coaches volleyball, substitute teaches, and volunteers in the afterschool daycare center at Holy Trinity School. Through these roles, she combines professional expertise with a deep sense of purpose, helping individuals navigate challenges, discover their strengths, build confidence, and experience care and encouragement during important moments in their lives.

As a nurse at Mayo Clinic, she is known for providing patient-centered care that emphasizes listening, trust, and treating individuals as whole people. Since becoming Youth Ministry Coordinator, she has brought that same spirit of service to the students she serves, expanding opportunities through weekly youth gatherings, retreats, service projects, mission trips, leadership development, and faith formation activities.

Katie has devoted countless hours to serving her church and local communities, volunteering with food pantries, Catholic schools, community outreach organizations, hospitals, youth programs, and charitable events.

One of Katie's most significant contributions has been her leadership of the Holy Trinity Mission Trip program. Having first participated in the program as a teenager, she later returned as an adult leader and eventually assumed responsibility for directing the program.

“Words cannot even come close to expressing what this trip has meant in my life, the lives of the teens that have taken part in this opportunity, and the lives we have changed through our service,” Katie explained. “My life was forever changed by my first trip and to get to help other teens have similar experiences is a true privilege and blessing in my life.”

For more than two decades, she has helped organize service opportunities that allow young people to serve communities across the country through home repairs, food distribution, youth programs, community improvement projects, and outreach efforts. Through these experiences, she has inspired generations of young people to develop a lifelong commitment to service and faith.

Katie's commitment to service was strengthened during her years at Mount Mercy. As a student, she was actively involved across campus through organizations including Student Government Association, Antioch Retreat, Honors Student Association, BACCHUS, Emerging Leaders, and Kappa Gamma Pi. She also served as a Resident Assistant and participated in Nurses of Vision and Action (NOVA) Senior Members. After graduation, she also served on the Young Alumni Board and Alumni Board for nine years. Surrounded by a strong Catholic community and inspired by the Sisters of Mercy, Katie developed values that continue to guide her personal and professional life.

Through her work as a nurse, mentor, volunteer, coach, and faith leader, Katie exemplifies the Mercy tradition of service, compassion, and leadership. Her unwavering dedication to others has transformed lives, strengthened communities, and inspired countless individuals to serve with generosity and purpose.

Merit Award

Kayleigh Gauger ’16 | 2026 Award Recipient 

Guided by a passion for helping others and a commitment to meaningful change, Kayleigh Gauger ’16 has focused her career on supporting individuals affected by substance use disorders. Since earning her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a double major in Criminal Justice from Mount Mercy University in 2016, she has become a trusted counselor, mentor, and advocate for those seeking recovery and renewal.  

Kayleigh currently serves as Lead Counselor at Area Substance Abuse Council’s Lost & Found Recovery Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she supports individuals through stabilization, early recovery, and the transition to ongoing care. Her responsibilities include developing individualized treatment plans, providing individual, group, and family counseling, coordinating care with healthcare providers and community partners, and helping patients prepare for long-term success after treatment. Throughout her work, Kayleigh strives to create an environment where every individual feels supported, respected, and empowered to pursue recovery.

Although she’s always felt drawn to service professions, Kayleigh often says that her career found her more than she found it. Joining ASAC in 2017 ultimately led her to discover a calling that combined her professional interests with a deep personal sense of purpose. Her experiences growing up with a father affected by addiction gave her a unique perspective and strengthened her commitment to helping others overcome similar struggles.

Kayleigh earned her Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential in 2018 and was promoted to Lead Residential Substance Abuse Counselor in 2019. As a leader, she has supported fellow counselors, strengthened communication among the treatment team, and cultivated a culture grounded in empathy, accountability, and patient-centered care. Her commitment to collaboration and compassionate leadership has helped create an environment where both staff and patients feel supported and valued.

Beyond her direct work with patients, Kayleigh is deeply committed to education, mentorship, and community service. She serves as a board member for Community Resources United to Spread Hope (CRUSH), contributes to initiatives that promote recovery and community support, and became a certified Basic Life Support instructor in 2021. As a BLS instructor, Kayleigh provides life-saving emergency response skills training. She has also remained connected to Mount Mercy through the Student & Alumni Mentorship Program and by speaking with undergraduate and graduate psychology students about careers in behavioral health.

Kayleigh credits Mount Mercy University with helping shape the values that continue to guide her work today. During her time on the Hill, she embraced the university’s emphasis on compassion, service, and creating a more equitable world. Those principles remain at the center of her approach as a counselor, influencing the way she advocates for individuals facing stigma, mental health challenges, addiction, and barriers to care. Her commitment to meeting people where they are and treating every individual with dignity reflects the Mercy values she first encountered as a student. Through her work as a counselor, advocate, mentor, and leader, Kayleigh exemplifies the Mercy tradition of compassion, service, and transformative care.