The annual award is the IU Alumni Association’s highest honor for an alum that keeps graduates connected to the university, according to the statement.
Slawinski, 70, of Ogden Dunes, is a Gary native and graduate of Gary Public Schools. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University Northwest in elementary and special education, according to the statement.
For 15 years, she served on the IU Northwest Alumni Association as a School of Education representative, before becoming its treasurer two years ago, according to the statement.
“Giving back to IU Northwest feels natural for me because of all the opportunities the university has given me,” she said in a statement. “Because of IU Northwest, I’ve had the opportunity to touch the lives of so many students and educators throughout Northwest Indiana.”
She led several IUN alumni committees, including planning for IU Day in Gary and the school’s Legacy Luncheon on Homecoming Day. Slawinski was also involved with IUN’s planning for its yearly Blood Donor Challenge and other blood drives by the student alumni association.
Slawinski said she was most proud of helping to set up an endowed scholarship fund for IUN students.
“Bernadette has been an invaluable voice and beacon of light on the IU Northwest alumni board,” IUN Alumni Relations Director Paulette LaFata-Johnson said. “In addition to leadership skills, she brought a fair and broad perspective grounded in her vast community service experience as a member the IUNAA board, as well as the boards of many other worthwhile organizations throughout Northwest Indiana.”
During her career, Slawinski taught hundreds of special education teachers at IUN and IU South Bend for more than 30 years, according to the release. She also helped supervise their student teaching.
Slawinski led IU summer programs that gave aspiring special education teachers experience in Gary, Crown Point and Valparaiso, according to the statement.
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