# Thomas More University honors five community leaders with awards  
**Published:** 2026-05-06T04:48:35.000Z  
**Source:** [NKY Tribune](https://nkytribune.com/2026/05/xxthomas-more-university-honors-five-community-members-with-28th-bishop-william-hughes-awards/)  
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**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/thomas-more-university-honors-five-community-leaders-with-awards

[Thomas More University recently honored five community members](https://nkytribune.com/2026/05/xxthomas-more-university-honors-five-community-members-with-28th-bishop-william-hughes-awards/) at the 28th annual Bishop William A. Hughes Award Dinner, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in Northern Kentucky and contributed significantly to Catholic education.

The honorees were Lou and Marilyn Esselman, Thomas Gilday, and Chuck and Julie Geisen Sheper, said Joseph L. Chillo, president of [Thomas More University](https://www.thomasmore.edu/) in Crestview Hills. "They have selflessly given their time and talents to help others through leadership, mentoring, and service initiatives," Chillo said.

[The Bishop William A. Hughes Award was established in 1996](https://www.thomasmore.edu/donate/distinguished-awards/) to honor those who have made significant contributions to Catholic higher education. Lou and Marilyn Esselman received this year's award, with Lou serving as alumni board president from 1984 to 1987 and as a public address announcer for basketball games for about 13 years. Marilyn served as secretary of the athletic boosters. The couple has remained active at St. Thomas Parish and with Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, and both their children graduated from Thomas More.

Thomas Gilday received the Dr. Raymond G. Hebert Distinguished Service Award for his 40 years as an accounting professor. Gilday, who was named instructor of the year in 1997 and received the Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Member award in 2020, launched the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in 1981. His father taught at Thomas More for 23 years, and both his sister and children are university alumni.

Chuck and Julie Geisen Sheper received the Thomas More Medallion, the university's highest non-academic service award. Julie, a mental health professional for 25 years, has served on boards for the [Covington Education Foundation](https://www.cov-ky.us/) and Brighton Center, while also mentoring first-generation college graduates through her 20-year Partners for Change program. Chuck, chairman of Bexion Pharmaceuticals, served as interim mayor of Covington and is a founding chair of the Catalytic Development Fund of Northern Kentucky. Together, they received the Northern Kentucky Chamber Frontiersman Award and were named persons of the year by the Metropolitan Club.

## Sources

- [NKY Tribune](https://nkytribune.com/2026/05/xxthomas-more-university-honors-five-community-members-with-28th-bishop-william-hughes-awards/)
- [Thomas More University official awards information](https://www.thomasmore.edu/donate/distinguished-awards/)
- [University background and location information](https://www.thomasmore.edu/)

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