2026 Alumnus of the Year

The Rockhurst High School National Alumni Association Executive Committee will honor Peter A. Mallouk ’88 as the 2026 Alumnus of the Year. Mallouk will accept the award during the school’s Homecoming Mass on September 15, 2026. He will also be recognized at the Alumni Reunion Celebration on September 18 and the Fr. Mario Puricelli, SJ, All Alumni Night on November 5.

A name with philanthropic impact across the area, Mallouk, along with his wife, Veronica, have been extremely generous to Rockhurst High School, Catholic education, and Kansas City as a whole.

His time at Rockhurst helped shape him into a successful businessman who has continually lived out the Jesuit calling of “to give and not to count the cost.” After graduating from The Rock in 1988, Mallouk went on to earn several degrees from the University of Kansas, including a Masters in Business and his law degree – in the same year. 

He began working for Creative Planning, a wealth management firm in Overland Park, KS, in 1998 as an estate planner and just six years later bought the firm while it had less than $100 million under management and a few dozen clients. Today, the firm manages approximately $700 billion in combined assets along with more than 320,000 clients. 

Mallouk has received numerous business awards ranging from Ingram’s 2024 Executive of the Year to being ranked #1 three times on Barron’s Top 11 Independent Financial Advisors to winning the Tiburon CEO Summit Award in 2025. 

But Mallouk is most proud of the philanthropic work carried out by his family. He and Veronica were the recipients of the Giving the Basics Human Dignity Award for their contributions toward helping struggling adults and children meet basic needs, as well as the Variety Presidential Citation Award for their work supporting children with developmental disabilities. The Mallouk Family Foundation has granted nearly $100 million since 2014 to organizations including Harvesters, Catholic Charities, Happy Bottoms, and the 10 Parks Project, among many others. 

He is the founder of the Kansas City Children’s Assistant Network (KCCAN!), dedicated to making grants and undertaking projects that improve the life of Kansas City’s children, with an emphasis on projects related to meeting basic needs, education, and wellness. He also founded Pathway Financial Education, which provides teenagers, adults, and business owners in under-resourced communities with actionable financial education. Mallouk has served on numerous nonprofit boards including the American Stroke Foundation and Kansas City Hospice. 

“Peter is not only one of the most successful people in the history of Kansas City – he leads his company with a ‘man for others’ mindset that demonstrates his care and generosity,” shared a Rockhurst alumnus who nominated Mallouk for the Alumnus of the Year Award. “He’s brilliant, humble, and the impact he’s made on his employees, clients, and the KC community is incredible.”

Mallouk’s impact also extends to his alma mater. As with so many worthy causes in and around Kansas City, Peter and Veronica have been magnanimous in generosity to Rockhurst High School, helping make a Rockhurst education accessible to more young men and their families. 

For his lasting impact on Rockhurst High School and the greater Kansas City community, Mallouk was selected as Rockhurst’s 25th Alumnus of the Year. 

“What makes Peter especially deserving of this recognition is the impact he has had both professionally and in the community,” shared Spencer Hardwick ’07, President of Rockhurst’s National Alumni Association. “His leadership, generosity, and commitment to others embody the best of the Rockhurst tradition, and we’re proud to honor him this year.”

The Alumnus of the Year Award is named for the Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, who was the Superior General of the Society of Jesus from 1965 to 1983. Fr. Arrupe coined the phrase “men for others” as a challenge to alumni of Jesuit institutions to change the world with devotion and service to mankind. Award recipients serve as role models for the entire Rockhurst High School community, particularly its students.

Past honorees include:

2025 - Emmet W. Pierson, Jr. '84

2024 - Mark R. Teahan '78

2023 - Dr. Kevin J. Cummings '73
2022 - Peter B. Browne '85
2021 – Ray D. Evans ’78

2020 – Allen K. Roberson ’84

2019 – M. James Van Dyke ’72

2018 – Jonathan R. Haden ’75

2017 – Thomas A. McDonnell ’62

2016 – Michael J. Brown ’75

2015 – William H. Dunn ’40

2014 – John G. Houlehan ’60

2013 – Rev. Jeffrey P. Putthoff, SJ ’83

2012 – David M. Knopke ’66

2011 – M. Rev. Geo. K. Fitzsimons, DD ’45

2010 – Thomas H. Norman ’59

2009 – Timothy P. O’Connor, PharmaD. ’74

2008 – James C. Wirken ’62

2007 – Raymond W. Sonnenberg ’65

2006 – Timothy M. Trabon ’69

2005 – Michael J. Van Dyke ’66

2004 – Robert E. Miller ’46

2003 – Mark J. Henke ’72

2002 – William J. McGraw ’44