Alumni Community Service Award

honors alumni who ahve enhanced the prestige of the university by virtue of their character and integrity through outstanding service in their community..

Name:  Harriet (Mertz '76) Redman
Major: Home Economics
Home: Appleton, Wisconsin
Employer: Fox Valley Sibling Support Network
Job Title: Executive Director

Harriet (Mertz '76) Redman earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics from Valparaiso University and a master’s degree in family and consumer science from Purdue University. She began her professional career with Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent Financial for Lutherans) in 1979 as a family education specialist and then as marketing director. During this time she also was active as a national chair in the Appleton (Wis.) Chapter of the Valparaiso University Guild, served as the director of the Faith Lutheran Covenant Choir, and hosted Valparaiso University choir members in Appleton. Redman went on to found the Fox Valley Sibling Support Network in 1998 and later became director of this organization. She was manager and fundraiser until 2003 for the White Heron Chorale, a semi-professional vocal chorale, and she founded the National Sibling Leadership Network and serves on the Sibling Support Project Advisory Panel. Her work with these organizations was featured in the June 2005 issue of Fyi: Family Year-round Ideas. Redman also is involved with the Universal Playground community project, Regional Summit for the Arts, the Appleton Housing Authority Sub-Committee on Special Needs Housing, the Celebrating Abilities community project, the Appleton Fox Cities Kiwanis Club, and the Faith Lutheran Music, Worship and Fine Arts Board.