Whether students in her classroom or neighbors who needed a helping hand, Natasha Hurt-Hayes ’02 has always led with service.

Hurt-Hayes initially was inspired in faith and service by her grandmother, and later by UD’s Marianist, holistic education. While her UD experience reinforced her values, it also provided high-quality career preparation in teacher education, enabling her to hit the ground running after graduation.

As an educator, Hurt-Hayes has shaped countless young people from marginalized groups, ranging from middle school and adulthood, across Dayton and Cincinnati. Her former students reach out to her with notes of gratitude, including a sixth-grade student now studying law, and another student who told Hurt-Hayes she was an inspiration to be the adult children need as they grow up.

Hurt-Hayes volunteers countless hours tutoring and mentoring students. She worked with the Edgemont Neighborhood Coalition. She also has led workshops for young mothers transitioning out of public assistance programs, teaching interview skills and workforce preparation.

Her support of families has included taking in students when parents had difficulty supporting them, even driving students hundreds of miles for their college move-in days.

As an advocate and change agent, Hurt-Hayes doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations to build bridges and forge better paths for her students. She expanded her work as an educational consultant to school districts across southwestern Ohio.

Her desire to impact lives through quality, culturally responsive pedagogy and strong support of young people has fueled her work, so much so that she was recognized by the Ohio Education Association and the National Education Association as a 2023 OEA Champion.

Special Achievement Award

The Special Achievement Award is presented to an alumnus who has distinguished themself by earning special distinction in civic or professional activities and has, by their actions, reflected honor on the Alumni Association and the University. The Special Achievement Award is given for outstanding achievement in business, in industry, through professional excellence, by civic activity or by service to the community. To be eligible, a person must hold a degree from the University of Dayton.

Past Recipients

Bucky Albers ’68
Herbert J. Ammerman ’69 
Thomas J. Archdeacon, Jr. ’72 
Robert Arnzen ’51 
Robert L. Bates ’67 
Steven C. Bergman ’77 
Arthur B. Bok III ’74
Susann M. Brady-Kalnay ’87
Jacqueline M. Brumfield ’71
Steven Budd ’76, ’78
Paul J. Campbell ’67 
John R. Castignola ’47 
James L. Charles ’53
Erica Chenoweth ’02 
Jacqueline K. Collier ’67 
Ronald W. Collins ’57
Valerie M. Dahlem ’85, ’94
Daniel E. Denlinger ’79 
Daklak Cao Do ’89 
Donald J. Donoher ’54
Wendy Humphrey Doolittle ’98
Elizabeth Duell ’58
Timothy L. Dues ’74 
Diana R. Dunn ’59 
Martha J. Dunsky ’75 
James L. Dutt ’66 
James A. Eiting ’58 
Ahmed K. Elmagarmid ’77 
Kathleen J. Emery ’69 
William M. Fackovec, S.M. ’49 
Gerald A. Faust, Jr. ’58 
Arthur O. Fisher ’48 
David P. Fitzgerald ’71 
Frances Longo Franchina ’60
Terri Lee Freeman ’81 
Manuel L. Garlikov ’43 
Barbara P. Gorman ’74 ’77
Garry B. Grice ’64 
Jon Gruden ’86 
William J. Gutbrod ’50 
Thomas M. Hannigan ’66 
Gerald M. Hauer ’56 
Nancy K. Hayes ’73 
Allen Hill ’67, ’72
Joseph Hinrichs ’89
Daniel J. Hornbach ’74
Sharon Davis Howard ’78
Ann Hudock ’90, ’93
Arthur J. Huber ’54 
Mary Josephine Huth ’50 
Charles B. Jones ’49
Jeffrey J. Jones II ’90
Henry M. Josefczyk ’60 
Jonathan Judge ’93
Robert S. Kennedy ’65 
William P. King ’96
Victoria Knipper Hughes ’74 
Wayne D. Lancaster ’69 
Jan Lepore-Jentleson ’71
John D. Lewis ’70 
Lloyd E. Lewis ’48 
C. LaShea (Smith) Lofton ’91
Claire R. Longman ’77 
Sr. Grace A. Luther, F.M.I. ’48 
Craig E. Lyon ’73 
Charles V. Magatti ’71 
Jon J. Major ’80 
Westina L. Matthews ’70 
Thomas F Mazza ’81 
Linda J. Mercuri ’69 
John F. Michitsch ’65 
Michele Mirto ’91 
John E. Moore ’55 
Charles H. Noll ’53 
Kenneth G. Oaks ’87
Joseph A. Oths ’56 
Kenneth Perko ’63 
John J. Peterangelo ’67 
Margaret E. Peters ’59 
Diane Kitzerow Phillips ’64 
ShirleyA. Pohl ’57 
Daniel Patrick Pugh ’79 
Francis X. Quinn ’51 
William M. Raveis, Jr. ’68 
Mary Anne Reilly-Dirlam ’75 
B. William Ricco ’58 
Elmo E. Roach ’63 
John D. Rossi ’58 
Joseph M. Scaminace ’75 
Earl Scheidler ’57 
Joseph Scherger ’71 
Katherine A. Schipper ’71 
Rosemary Schmidt ’52 
Richard M. Schoen ’72 
Roman U. Schoenherr ’56 
Stephen P. Scovic ’66 
Deborah J. Seifert ’70
Michael Sewell ’85
Gerald S. Sharkey ’65 
Mary Ann Sharkey ’74 
Ned J. Sifferlen ’63 
Michael S. Someck ’62 
Robert G. Stachler ’51 
Virginia MacMillan Varga ’51
Lisa Payne Wansley ’84
Howard Watkins ’86
Robert L. Westerheide ’56
Marcy Weston ’66
A. William Wiggenhorn ’66
Michael D. Wilson ’70
Kevin J. Wood ’69
Helen A. Yura-Petro ’53
Haleem N. Zihenni ’88