Past Alumni Award Recipients

The ��㴫ý Alumni Association recognizes and honors alumni who, through leadership, character and hard work, have made exceptional contributions in their chosen profession, in their communities and at ��㴫ý. Sponsored by the Kent State Alumni Association, the Alumni Awards are the university’s most prestigious honors given to alumni.

Past Award Recipients

2025

Distinguished Alumni Award - Commander Reji Kurien Thomas, MTEC ’03, Ph.D.
Distinguished Citizen Award - Kira Krivosh, ’05
Professional Achievement Award - Cheng Chen, Ph.D. ’06
Professional Achievement Award - James Malenda, ’71
Professional Achievement Award - Gene W. Poor, ’66, M.Ed. ’68, Ph.D.
Outstanding New Professional Award - Tierra James, ’16, M.A. ’19, Ph.D. ’22
Kent State Advocacy Award - Silas Ashley, ’74, JD
Friend of ��㴫ý Award - Charles L. Greene, MSW, JD
Outstanding Staff Member Award - Cynthia Smith, ’18, LSM ’22
Golden Flash Award - Autumn Ohl, ’25

2024

Distinguished Alumni Award - Bea Shaheen McPherson, ’43
Distinguished Citizen Award - Cindy Kerr, ’79, MBA ’81
Professional Achievement Award - Vanessa Dianna Johnson, ’79, M.Ed. ’81, Ed.D.
Professional Achievement Award - Lillian Kuri, BS ’93, B.Arch ’94, MUD
Professional Achievement Award - Lauren Luna, ’00
Professional Achievement Award - Patricia Roberts-McDaniel, ’83, Ph.D.
Kent State Advocacy Award - Jim Sebastian, ’91
Outstanding New Professional Award - Erica Dovin, ’21
Outstanding New Professional Award - Aysia Kemp, ’20
Outstanding Staff Member Award - Andrew M. Snyder, ’14, MPH ’17
Golden Flash Award - Vivian Hawk, ’24

2023

Distinguished Alumni Award - Thomas Iivari, ’67, MS ’76
Distinguished Citizen Award - Scott Haws, ’99, MBA
Professional Achievement Award - Danita Brown Young, ’97, Ph.D.
Professional Achievement Award - Sonia Karkare, ’93, MS ’96
Professional Achievement Award - John Van Alstine, ’74, MFA
Kent State Advocacy Award - Garret Ferrara, ’90, MBA ’92
Outstanding New Professional Award - Morgan Dawson, ’20
Golden Flash Award - Isobel Day, ’23
Golden Flash Award - Haley Dees
Golden Flash Award - Avery Hall, '23

2022

Distinguished Alumni Award - Raj Aggarwal, MBA ’70, DBA ’75
Distinguished Citizen Award - Kathryn M. Tschiegg, ’92, RN
Professional Achievement Award - Gary P. Jacobson, Ph.D. ’78
Professional Achievement Award - Robert C. Lape, ’55
Kent State Advocacy Award - Howard Ruffner, ’71
Outstanding New Professional Award - Brenna Parker, ’17
Golden Flash Award - Hannah Balash, ’21

2021

Distinguished Alumni Award - Beverley Laubert, ’84
Distinguished Citizen Award - James Luther Raper, ’79
Professional Achievement Award - Colonel (ret) David H. Carstens, ’88
Professional Achievement Award - Richard Breedon, ’77
Kent State Advocacy Award - Robert Ross, ’70
Kent State Advocacy Award - Michael John Gallagher II, ’19
Outstanding New Professional Award - Gordon Stumpo, MA ’16
Golden Flash Award - Tiarra Reddick, ’21

2017

Distinguished Citizen Award - Paul Beatty, ’87
Distinguished Alumni Award - Dr. Jennie S. Hwang, M.S. ’71
Professional Achievement Award - Gary O'Hara, ’74 and Richard Benz, ’73
Kent State Advocacy Award - Elizabeth Bartz, ’80, M.A. ’82
Outstanding New Professional Award - Dr. Anthony Limperos, ’04, M.A. ’06
Golden Flash Award - Marisa Stephens, ’18

2016

Distinguished Alumni Award - George Newkome, ’61, Ph.D. ’66
Distinguished Citizen Award - Brooks Sumberg, ’72
Professional Achievement Award - Karen Bankston, ’84, M.S.N. ’90 and John Visser, D.P.M. ’78
Kent State Advocacy Award - Gary Brahler, ’89
Outstanding New Professional Award - Damian Beauchamp, ’12
Golden Flash Award - Jordan Provost, ’17

2015

Distinguished Alumni Award - Timothy Hunsicker, ’92, ’93, M.Arch. ’94
Distinguished Citizen Award - Abbie Morneault, ’12
Professional Achievement Award - Earl Miller, ’85
Kent State Advocacy Award - Larry, ’71, ’73, M.Ed. ’78 and Sandy, ’75 Disbro
Outstanding New Professional Award - Morgan Shields, ’14
Golden Flash Award - Douglas Defouw, JR., ’17

2014

Distinguished Citizen Award - Andy Baskin, ’90
Distinguished Alumni Award - Carter Strang, ’73, M.Ed. ’79
Professional Achievement Award - Patricia Shehan Campbell, Ph.D. ’81
Kent State Advocacy Award - John Garofalo, ’87, M.Ed. ’93
Outstanding New Professional Award - Lauren Kotmel, ’11
Golden Flash Award - Bitrus Audu, ’14

Previous Award Winners

Distinguished Alumnus Award - Established in 1958

1958- Dr. Whitlaw M. Show, ‘41
1959- Mr. C. J. (Mickey) Dover, ‘48
1960- Ward W. Davis, ‘29
1961- Miss Loretta M. Antl, ‘20
1962- Kenneth S. Nash
1963- Mona Fletcher
1964- Mr. John F. Farinacci, ‘37
1965- Reverend J. Meade Letts, ‘42
1965- Mr. Robert W. Blakemore, ‘50
1966- Mr. Robert L. Baumgardner, ‘36
1967- Mrs. Julia M. Walsh, ‘45
1968- Donald J. Kintner, ‘47
1969- Dr. John B. Ervin, ‘38
1970- Mr. Lloyd G. Butler, ‘49
1971- Dr. Gerald H. Read, ‘36
1972- Senator Robert Stockdale, ‘40
1973- Captain Theodore (Ted) F. Kopfman, ‘55
1973- Ms. Margie D (nee Myers) Kopfman, ‘54
1974- Mr. John P. Williamson, ‘45
1975- Dr. Arthur L. Tuuri, ‘42
1976- Mr. Joseph D. Kelly, ‘33
1977- Mr. Victor E. Buehrle, Jr., ‘50
1978- Mr. Louis (Lou) L. Holtz, ‘59
1979- Robert E. Cook, ‘47
1980- Mr. George Urban, ‘37
1981- Mr. Donald J. Erb, ‘50
1982- Mr. James P. McCarthy, ‘57
1983- Mr. Albert J. Flogge, ‘56
1984- Mr. Richard (Dick) D. Goddard, ‘60
1985- Mr. Oliver R. Ocasek, ‘46
1985- Senator Marcus A. Roberto, 57
1986- Mrs. Jan Barden, ‘48
1987- Mr. Robert Mitten, ‘49
1988- Mr. James E. Martin, ‘51
1989- Mr. John Kapioltas, ‘51
1990- Mr. Norbert (Nobby) Lewandowski, ‘59
1991- Mrs. Helen Dix, ‘38
1992- Mr. Don Shook, ‘56
1993- Dr. Clarence Mixon, ‘61
1994- Dr. Harley Flack, ‘68
1995- Brian Tucker, ‘75
1997- Lt. Col. Carl E. Walz, ‘77
1998- Ronald A. Pizzuti, ‘62
1999- Dr. Emilio Ferrara, ‘59

Distinguished Service Award - Established in 1972

1972- Mr. Trevor J. Rees, ‘67
1976- Dr. George C. Betts, ‘40
1976- Dr. Kenneth E. Colton
1984- Mr. John (Jack) P. Frankenberger
1984- Miss Marie Salandra, ‘43
1985- Dr. Clifford (Cliff) Shields
1987- Mr. Shannon Rodgers, ‘85
1987- Mr. George Janik, ‘56
1988- Mrs. Carolyn Norman, ‘87
1989- Mrs. Julia M. Walsh, ‘45
1990- Dr. Pat Crisci, ‘74
1991- Mr. William Reppa, ‘51
1992- Mr. John Weber, ‘64
1993- Mr. Hal Schoonover, ‘49
1994- Mr. Jim Van Gilder, ‘50
1995- Mr. Jerry Hawkins,
1997- D. Scott Cunningham, ‘77
1997- Joseph “Bud” Le Chaix, ‘42
1998- Richard Rango, ‘70
1998- Catherine Teti, ‘75
1998- R. Larry Sisson, ‘52
1999- Clarence Rogers, ‘61
1999- Louis A. Telerico, ‘65

Special Achievement Award - Established in 1976

1976- Mr. Thurman Munson
1977- Mr. Jack Lambert
1979- Jim Coll
1980- Jim Coll
1981-Gene Michael
1984- Marie Salandra
1986- Dr. Lawrence Bliss
1986- Mr. Joe Walsh
1987- Mr. O. Louis Mazzatenta
1988- Dr. Sally Pisarchick (nee Ramsey)
1988- Ms. Janice M. Temkiewicz
1989- Mr. Ted Curtis
1989- Judge Charles Fleming
1989- Mr. Michael Keaton
1990- Mr. John Zabrucky
1990- Mr. Robert McGruder
1990- Mr. Mike Santoro
1991- Mr. Charles Conconi
1991- Mr. C. Brent DeVore
1991- Dr. Darlene Clark Hine
1991- Mr. William Asbury
1991- Mr. Ray Wise
1992- Mr. Joseph Gorman
1992- Mr. Thomas Litwiler
1992- Mr. Ted Henry
1992- Mr. Robert Labant
1992- Ms. Leslie Gaffney
1993- Ms. Cynthia Rylant
1993- Mr. Doug Cowan
1993- Mr. Donald Hemderson
1993- Ms. Linda DeScenna
1993- Mr. Leo DaMore
1993- Mr. Carl Walz
1994- Mr. Clarence Rogers
1994- Mr. Robert Hemenway
1994- Mr. Charles Pilliod
1995- Ms. Kathleen Murray
1997- Herbert A. Page
1998- William F. Sullivan, Jr.
1998- Dr. Cynthia S. Shellhaas
1998- John F. Fiedler
1999- Al Bartholet

Distinguished Student Leader Award

1979- Mr. Alan D. Reid
1982- Ms. Melanie A. Hanssen
1983- Ms. Pamela Balogh
1984- Ms. Sandra (Sandy) L. West
1985- Ms. Margaret Gwazdauskas
1986- Mrs. Rosemary Guerriero
1987- Ms. Rebecca A. Mitchells
1988- Mr. Peter (Pet) G. Martin
1989- Miss Aundrea Gee
1990- Mr. Dorn Wenninger
1991- Mr. Ken Weiss
1992- Ms. Nancy Wysocki
1993- Ms. Robin Stone
1994- Mr. Kenneth Bamm Clemons
1995- Mr. Anthony Keys
1996- Ms. Kristen Friedel
1997- Ms. Jennifer Gensch
1998- Ms. Vanessa K. Capps
1999- Ms. Margaret Cox

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