Bellarmine University will honor eight exceptional alumni and friends at its annual Knight of Excellence awards dinner on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
 
The event celebrates the enduring impact of individuals whose lives and work reflect Bellarmine's mission to educate students in mind, body, and spirit – preparing them for meaningful lives, rewarding careers, ethical leadership, and service to improve the human condition. 
 
The 2026 Knight of Excellence honorees are distinguished leaders spanning business, military service, the clergy, education, healthcare, and civic life. They share a commitment to service, excellence, and the values at the heart of a Bellarmine education. 
 
Knight of Excellence is an invitation-only annual event for Bellarmine's most loyal donors. To learn more about the President's Society donor level or event sponsorship opportunities, visit https://www.bellarmine.edu/kofe. 
 
2026 KNIGHT OF EXCELLENCE HONOREES 
 
Russell F. Cox '22 Hon. 
2026 Knight of Knights Award 
Russell Cox, President and CEO of Norton Healthcare, is a member and past chair of Bellarmine’s Board of Trustees. He has been a dedicated partner and advocate for Bellarmine for more than two decades. Through his leadership, Norton Healthcare and Bellarmine have built a transformational partnership supporting nursing education, sports medicine, campus wellness, and workforce development. Cox also has contributed 16 years of service to Bellarmine’s Board of Trustees, helping advance the university’s mission and strengthen its impact on students and the Louisville region. 
 
Al '72 & Mary Jo '74, '84 Burke 
Alumni of the Year 
The Burkes are devoted Bellarmine alumni whose decades of service and generosity reflect their gratitude for the education and community they found on campus. Al played baseball for the Knights and later returned to serve as an admissions counselor and head baseball coach. Mary Jo earned two Education degrees from Bellarmine and taught in Louisville schools for 35 years. Together, the Burkes have supported scholarships, athletics and annual giving, including helping establish an endowed scholarship for students with financial need. They also serve as ambassadors for Bellarmine’s 75th anniversary comprehensive campaign. 
 
Major General (Ret.) Edward W. Tonini '68 
Scarlet & Silver Society 
Edward “Ed” Tonini is a distinguished Bellarmine alumnus whose military career spanned nearly five decades. Rising from the enlisted ranks of the Kentucky Air National Guard, he later served as Kentucky’s 51st Adjutant General, leading the state’s Army and Air National Guard through deployments and emergency response efforts. A proud member of the Bellarmine Class of 1968 and the Gallery of Distinguished Graduates, Tonini remains a dedicated supporter of Bellarmine, helping establish the Mother Teresa Legacy Endowment Fund to expand experiential learning opportunities for students. 
 
Father Clyde F. Crews '66 
Horrigan Distinguished Service Award 
Clyde Crews is a beloved Bellarmine alumnus, priest, educator, and historian with decades of service to the university. A longtime Theology professor, he also served as academic dean, department chair, director of the Thomas Merton Center, university historian, and archival coordinator. Crews has preserved Bellarmine’s story through his authorship of In Veritatis Amore, a concise history of the university. 
 
Thomas Bartrum '89 
Gallery of Distinguished Graduates 
Thomas Bartrum is an accomplished healthcare attorney and Bellarmine alumnus. He served as executive vice president and general counsel of Privia Health from 2015 to 2024, helping shape the company’s legal and strategic framework during a period of significant growth. Previously, he was a partner at Baker Donelson, focusing on healthcare regulatory matters. He and his wife created the Bartrum Family Endowed Scholarship, supporting students of greatest financial need who are experiencing unexpected struggles. 
 
Kristy Leonard '00, '03 
Gallery of Distinguished Graduates 
Kristy Leonard is a finance and operations leader and Bellarmine alumna. At Humana, she has held senior roles in source-to-pay operations and analytics, and was recognized among Louisville Business First’s 2019 Best in Finance honorees. A former Bellarmine volleyball and golf student-athlete, Leonard now serves as chair of the university’s B Club, which honors past student-athletes while celebrating the continued success of current Knights.  
 
Jim Mattingly '01 
Gallery of Distinguished Graduates 
Jim Mattingly is a Bellarmine alumnus and accomplished finance executive who currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Saint Xavier High School. Previously, he held senior leadership roles, including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BrightSpring Health Services, where he helped lead the company through its transition to a public company. Mattingly has remained deeply engaged with Bellarmine as a former President of the Alumni Board of Directors and current member of the University's Board of Trustees. 
 
Alli Truttmann '06 
Gallery of Distinguished Graduates 
Alli Truttmann is a Bellarmine alumna, entrepreneur, and educator. She founded Wicked Technologies in 2008, developing moisture-wicking sleep products and leading the company to win Louisville’s Venture Sharks competition and gain national exposure on QVC. Truttmann also returned to Bellarmine as an adjunct Psychology professor and served on the Alumni Association’s board. During her time as a student at Bellarmine, she played on the women’s soccer team.