Thomas More University recently honored five community members at the 28th annual Bishop William A. Hughes Award Dinner. The awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated leadership in the community and made a significant impact on Catholic education.
This year’s honorees were Louis (Lou) ’81 and Marilyn Esselman, Thomas Gilday ‘75, and Charles (Chuck) ’74 and Julie Geisen Sheper ‘76.
“We are thrilled to recognize the dedication this year’s recipients have to Thomas More, Catholic higher education, and the broader community,” said Joseph L. Chillo, LP.D, President of Thomas More University. “They have selflessly given their time and talents to help others through leadership, mentoring, and service initiatives. These initiatives support Thomas More’s mission of challenging students of all faiths to examine the ultimate meaning of life, their place in the world, and their responsibility to others.”
The Bishop William A. Hughes Award was given to Lou and Marilyn Esselman in recognition of their significant contributions to Catholic higher education throughout the region. In ’81, Lou was elected to the alumni board and served as president from ‘84 to ‘87. They both worked bingo and Marilyn served as the athletic boosters’ secretary. Lou was also the public address announcer for the men’s and women’s basketball games for about 13 years.
Lou and Marilyn are active with St. Thomas Parish, where Marilyn served as the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine teacher and conference secretary. She was also the Santa House Fund Raiser Program Treasurer at Ruth Moyer Elementary School. Lou has been a volunteer at Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky since ‘93.
Lou graduated from Thomas More in ’81, his sister graduated in ’66 when the university was still known as Villa Madonna College, and both of Lou and Marilyn’s children graduated from Thomas More
.
Thomas Gilday received the Dr. Raymond Hebert Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding contributions to Thomas More. For 40 years, Thomas was an accounting professor, providing practical life skills such as financial literacy for first year students. He was named Instructor of the Year in ’97, Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Member in ’20, and received the Outstanding Student Advocacy award also in ’20. In ’21, he was named Faculty Emeritus in recognition of his meritorious service. He also served as the department chair, participated in many University committees and helped establish the Jamaica Service Learning program.
Thomas launched the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in ‘81 and remained active through ‘20. In ‘04 and ‘10, he was recognized by Delta Epsilon Sigma for his dedication to community service. Thomas’s University roots run deep — his father taught at Thomas More for 23 years, and his sister, as well as his children, are all Thomas More alumni.
The Thomas More Medallion is the highest dedicated service award granted to a member of the Thomas More community, recognizing their extraordinary service to the University and to the larger community which it serves. This year, Chuck and Julie Geisen Sheper received this award in honor of their exceptional leadership and shared commitment to service, mentorship, and community advancement at Thomas More and throughout Northern Kentucky.
A mental health professional for 25 years, Julie was active with the DCCH Center for Children and Families, Brighton Center, and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Covington, where she supervised the Child Guidance Program. She has served on boards for the Covington Education Foundation, Independent Public Schools, Interact for Health, BRIDGES for a Just Community, Parish Kitchen, and the Thomas More University Distinguished Alumnae League. Her 20-year Partners for Change mentorship helped a first‑generation college graduate launch her career.
As the chairman of Bexion Pharmaceuticals, Chuck helps advance cancer and neurological disease treatments and he has been involved with the Cancer Support Community for several years. Chuck also served as the interim Mayor of Covington, is a founding chair of the Catalytic Development Fund of Northern Kentucky, and has served on numerous regional boards.
Together, Chuck and Julie have received the Northern Kentucky Chamber Frontiersman Award, the Metropolitan Club Persons of the Year Award, Northern Kentucky University’s Lincoln Award, the Devou Cup, and individual Bishop Hughes awards. Julie was also named an Outstanding Woman of Northern Kentucky, and Chuck was named a Great Living Cincinnatian in ‘25.
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