The John D. Gillen Golden Eagle Alumni Award
This award is given annually to a graduate of either St. Mary’s or John F. Kennedy Catholic School who demonstrates the characteristics of courage, integrity, and dedication in their community, professional, and personal life. They are honored at a dinner during graduation week and serve as the speaker during our commencement ceremony, as an example and inspiration to the graduating class. In 2017, the award was renamed in honor of Mr. John Gillen '50.
2026 Recipient - honorable james fredericka, Class of 1971
The Kennedy Family is pleased to announce our 2026 John D. Gillen Golden Eagle Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, The Honorable James Fredericka ’71. He will serve as the Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2026 on Saturday, May 23 at 9 a.m. at Robins Theatre.
James A. Fredericka is a lifelong resident of Trumbull County, Ohio, who has dedicated over four decades to the legal profession. A graduate of John F. Kennedy Catholic School in 1971, he continued his education at the University of Notre Dame, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1975. His academic achievements include membership in the Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Epsilon honor societies. He earned his Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University in 1978 and was admitted to the Ohio State Bar that same year.
Throughout his career, Judge Fredericka has served the public in multiple capacities. He began as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Trumbull County from 1978 to 1984 before spending 37 years in private practice with the firms Ambrosy and Fredericka, and Richards, Ambrosy and Fredericka. In February 2015, he transitioned to the bench, where he currently serves as the Trumbull County Probate Court Judge. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. A respected leader in the legal community, Fredericka served as the president of the Trumbull County Bar Association from 1998 to 1999. He has shared his expertise as a guest speaker for the National College of Probate Judges and the Ohio Association of Probate Judges and has been a member of the non-regular teaching staff at the University of Notre Dame.
His professional excellence is reflected in his AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and his inclusion in the top one percent of the American Registry’s America’s Most Honored Lawyers. In 2016, he was named Public Official of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers Ohio Chapter-Region IV. Judge Fredericka has also given much of his time and talent to local community organizations including Trumbull County Probate Veterans Assistance program, Trumbull County Senior Court Assistance program, and Guardian Angels of Trumbull County. He has also served as a past chairman of the Warren Civil Service Commission and sat as a Board member for the American Red Cross Trumbull County Chapter, Catholic Community Services, Inc., of Trumbull County, Notre Dame Schools, and St. John Paul II Parish board and finance council.
Judge Fredericka has been married to Lou Ann (Malone) Fredericka ’73 for 47 years. They have two children: Gina Marie ’09, a nurse and graduate of St. Mary’s College and Kent State University, and Michael James ’11, an attorney and graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Akron School of Law.
Past Recipients
2010 - Mrs. Luann (D'Amico) Rossi - Class of 1972
2009 - Mr. Timothy McGuire - Class of 1982
2008 - Father Thomas McCarthy - Class of 1954
2007 - John Augenstein - Class of 1952
2006 - Hugh Hewitt - Class of 1974
2000 - Sam Covelli - Class of 1971
1999- Laurie Antonelli Epp - Class of 1972
1998 - Kathleen Karrenbauer Albrecht - Class of 1983
1997 - Chris Columbus - Class of 1976
1996 - James "Doc" Pipino - Class of 1952
1995 - Anthony "Tony" Napolet - Class of 1956
1993 - H.E. Mike Van Huffel - Class of 1952
1992 - Mr. John Gillen - Class of 1950
2025 - Mr. John Guarnieri - Class of 1976
2024 - Mr. Andrew Bayman - Class of 1982
2023 - Mr. Michael Misocky - Class of 1988
2022 - Jim Coates - Class of 1984
2021 - Patrick Norton - Class of 1968
2020 - Courage, Integrity, & Dedication Award Created
2019 - Regina Rebhan Mitchell - Class of 1989
2018 - Diana Hernandez Muccio - Class of 1970
2017 - John D. Gillen Alumni Award Recognition
2016 - Mr. James Pipino - Class of 1978
2015 - Mr. E. Jeffrey Rossi - Class of 1971
2014 - Mr. Patrick Wilson - Class of 1981
2013 - Captain Perry Martini - Class of 1966
2012 - Mr. Patrick Esposito - Class of 1971
2011 - Rev. Ronald Nuzzi - Class of 1976
