Southwestern Magazine | Spring 2019

Distinguished Professional: Sylvia SydowKerrigan ’86 After graduating fromSouthwestern, Sylvia SydowKerrigan attended theUniversity of Texas Law School and practiced international corporate law, maritime law, insurance coverage, and complex civil litigation. As executive vice president and general counsel at Marathon Oil Corporation, her leadership culminated in numerous awards for excellence in business, compliance, and regulatory affairs, aswell as community service and pro bonowork. From2000 to 2002, Kerriganworked at the United Nations Security Council’s Commission d’Indemnisation. There, she served as the senior legal officer responsible for arbitrating the losses sustained by international energy companies following Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Kerriganwas recently selected as the executive director of theKayBaileyHutchisonCenter for Energy, Law, andBusiness at UT. She has been active in a range of professional and civic organizations, including SU’s Board of Visitors and Board of Trustees. Distinguished Southwestern Service: JimWilson ’69 JimWilson’s spirited service to Southwestern includes the Board of Visitors, the Greater George- town Chapter of the Southwestern Alumni Association, and the College-Town Committee. He is also the unofficial Pirate volunteer at many SU events (“Arrrrr!”). In 2016, Wilsonwon theMartha DiazHurtadoCollege-TownAward, which recognized the dedicated efforts he hasmade to enhance the campus community for SU students, faculty, and staff. As a member of Georgetown’s Main Street Board, he has been the University’s biggest cheerleader, initiating the printing of the SU 1840 pennants that the city places around the square during school events. Wilson has also been instrumental in drumming up support for Southwestern’s football program, attending every one of Coach Austin’s radio shows at Burger University and providing numerous printedmaterials to support the newprogram, including signs for the stadiumand for community kickoff events. Distinguished Humanitarian: Anastasia “Staci” Benson ’05 Staci Benson is a physician and owner of Paradigm Family Health in Dallas, where she practices familymedicine in a direct primary caremodel. Benson demonstrated heroic effort in coordinating disaster relief in the aftermath of HurricanesHarvey, Irma, andMaria. OnAugust 29, 2017, Benson was tagged in a Facebook post that alarmed her: There were no medications or medical supplies to serve the thousands of displaced people sheltering at the George R. Brown Convention Center. FromAugust to December 2017, she worked tirelessly to raise money, purchase medical supplies andmedications, and organize their delivery to the hardest-hit locations in Houston, Port Aransas, Port Arthur, Florida, and Puerto Rico. She aided in raising roughly $100,000 to purchase supplies that she and her colleagues then inventoried, packaged, and shipped to physicians and community health providers during that hurricane season. Distinguished Professional: Roy Rivera ’02 Roy Rivera first discovered his passion for physical therapy at Southwestern, when he was volun- teering at Georgetown’s Ride On Center for Kids (ROCK). There, he realized he wanted to devote his career to improving individuals’ ability tomove freely andwithout pain. Since graduating, he has earned amaster’s and doctorate of physical therapy and a Ph.D. in health studies with an emphasis on community health. He is the CEO and director of rehabilitation at Crōm Rehabilitation in Houston—a practice bringing care to approximately 6,000 patients. His commitment to professional excellence has won him numerous awards, including the Patient’s Choice Winner among OpenCare’s top 10 physical therapists of 2015 in Houston. He is a dedicated supporter and fundraiser for the LGBT community through his work with the RyanWhite HIV/AIDS Program, the Board of the Houston Tennis Club, and Hatch Youth. 41 SOUTHWESTERN