Distinguished Awards Celebration 2015

Transcription

1 University of Northern Iowa Distinguished Awards Celebration 2015 November 20, 2015 Commons Georgian Lounge and Slife Ballroom

2 University of Northern Iowa Distinguished Awards Celebration 2015 Hosted by the UNI Alumni Association and the UNI Foundation WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Lisa Baronio Vice President for University Advancement President of the UNI Foundation SPECIAL MUSIC Provided by the UNI School of Music COMMENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT William N. Ruud PRESENTATION OF HONOURS AND AWARDS Michelle Koller 98, Chair, UNI Alumni Association Board of Directors Mark Oman 76, Chair, UNI Foundation Board of Trustees CLOSING COMMENTS Lisa Baronio

3 Heritage Honours Awards ESTABLISHED 1956 HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD Stan and Rose Lorenz YOUNG ALUMNUS AWARD Andy Van Fleet 98 ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD Sue Caley 81 ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Dr. John Talley 74 President s Awards ESTABLISHED 2012 EMERGING PHILANTHROPIST AWARD Michael Armbrecht 90 FACULTY AND STAFF AWARD Dr. William Thrall CORPORATION AND FOUNDATION AWARD Transamerica, part of the Aegon Group

4 Honorary Alumni Award Stan and Rose Lorenz This award is presented to friends of the university in recognition of their exceptional support of the University of Northern Iowa. Exceptional is a good descriptor for Stan and Rose Lorenz. Their personal and corporate support extends across campus making an impact on academics, the arts, capital building projects and Panther athletics. As president of University Book & Supply (UBS) for many years, Rose built a strong relationship with the UNI Alumni Association; which continues in her retirement. In each of UNI s campaigns, UBS provided key financial support. Stan provided leadership and served for many years on the Panther Scholarship Club (PSC) executive committee. He was a top fundraiser for UNI Athletics in the annual PSC drive. Rose has served on numerous UNI committees and advisory boards over the years, including president of the UNI Foundation Board of Trustees, where she remains actively engaged as a current member. She has provided invaluable input and guidance to the UNI Foundation. She and Stan have provided significant support to the university through cash and estate gifts. Stan and Rose proudly fly the purple and gold flag both literally and figuratively.

5 Young Alumnus Award Andy Van Fleet Class of 1998 This award is presented to a graduate who has demonstrated success early in his or her career and who has been active in the life of the University of Northern Iowa. Andy Van Fleet embarked on his entrepreneurial career in 2001 by founding Darning Pixels, Inc., at the UNI Regional Business Center s business incubator facility in Waterloo. With his expertise in graphic design, web design and customer service, Andy grew his business to more than 20 clients in the first year. Two years later, he secured space in a historic downtown Waterloo building and continued to yield 20 percent growth each year. Darning Pixel has since merged with Visual Logic, which serves national and international clients. In addition to winning multiple awards, Visual Logic earned a prestigious spot on the 2012 Inc. 500 list as one of America s fastest growing companies. The majority of Andy s employees are UNI graduates, and he eagerly recruits UNI interns. Andy was named one of the Waterloo Courier s 20 Under 40 in 2005 and Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Iowa Small Business Association. He currently serves on the Interactive Studies Advisory Board at UNI and on the Board of Directors at Farmers State Bank.

6 Alumni Service Award Sue Caley Class of 1981 This award recognizes graduates who have exhibited long and continuing service to the university and their community. As a resident of West Des Moines, Sue Caley is a strong voice for UNI in her community. She is a faithful attender of UNI events in the metro area, and she is quick to contact legislators to advocate on behalf of the University. Sue makes it a point to ask high school students if they are considering UNI and encourages them to do so if they haven t. Twenty-eight consecutive years of giving speaks of Sue s loyalty. Her service on the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Advisory Board since its inception speaks of her passion. That passion goes beyond the borders of West Des Moines across the state of Iowa as Sue continually promotes CSBS programs and initiatives. Sue works in corporate communications at Wells Fargo in West Des Moines.

7 Alumni Achievement Award John Talley Class of 1974 This award recognizes the significant professional accomplishments of UNI graduates. John Talley didn t aspire to be a scientist. He didn t even want to attend college, but fortunately for millions of people around the world, his dad said that was not an option. While working under Professor Jim Macmillan at UNI, John discovered he enjoyed research and the thrill of discovery. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota where he learned to question everything. John says all his successes can be attributed back to questioning. John received the prestigious Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Discoverers Award in 2002 for his discovery of Celebrex for treatment of arthritis. Other inventions include Dynastat for acute postoperative pain treatment and Trocoxil for pain and inflammation in animals. John is the co-founder and chief scientific officer for SARmont, a firm that provides medicinal chemistry design and consulting, as well as co-founder of Euclises Pharmaceuticals. John has established the Dr. John J. Talley Chemistry Scholarship and provides two $5,000 scholarships annually for chemistry majors at UNI.

8 Emerging Philanthropist Award Michael Armbrecht Class of 1990 This award recognizes an individual or a couple, no older than 50 years of age, who have provided philanthropic support and creative leadership to the university. As a student, Michael Armbrecht was a Presidential Scholar and served in leadership roles in the student alumni organization and the Lutheran student organization. As an alumnus, he has continued to serve UNI as a member of the Imagine the Impact Campaign steering committee and as a member of the Alumni Association Board (president ). Michael caught the philanthropic bug back in his college days when he made his first gift to the UNI Senior Challenge. He has not missed a year since. Support includes Accounting Alumni Annual Campaign, College of Business Administration Dean s Fund for Excellence, UNI Annual Fund, Alumni Association Scholarship, McLeod Center and the Darrell Davis Accounting Scholarship. In 2013, he established the Michael R. Armbrecht Endowed Honors Scholars Scholarship. After graduating from UNI, Michael began his career at Honeywell as an internal auditor. He held a series of positions and now is Chief Financial Officer of Honeywell s Defense Aftermarket Americas Division in Tempe, Arizona. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.

9 Faculty and Staff Award Dr. William Thrall This award recognizes an individual or couple currently employed by or retired from the University of Northern Iowa who has provided philanthropic support, dedicated long-term service and creative leadership to the university. Bill Thrall devotes countless hours each year to planning the Hall of Excellence event. The two-day event recognizes graduates from the College of Education s School of Health, Physical Education & Leisure Services (HPELS) who have distinguished themselves as professionals in their fields. The Hall of Excellence is located in the Wellness and Recreation Center where students gather to work toward their own bright futures and are inspired to strive toward excellence. Bill is professor emeritus and emeritus director, UNI School of HPELS. For 41 years students at UNI have benefited from Bill s generosity, and they will continue to reap benefits for years to come through his thoughtful estate planning. He is an inspiration to faculty and staff who join him in supporting the Hall of Excellence event and Panther athletics through the Panther Scholarship Club. Bill and his wife, Kay, are actively engaged on campus and regularly attend Foundation and Panther athletic events.

10 Corporation and Foundation Award Transamerica, Part of the Aegon Group This award is presented to a corporation, foundation or organization that has demonstrated generosity to UNI through significant leadership giving, dedicated long-term service and assistance to UNI students and faculty through recruitment opportunities and/or programming support. Aegon s support to UNI dates back to 1989 when they established the Aegon Endowed Scholarship. Over the years, the company has contributed to UNI s Early Childhood Center, the Real Estate Program, scholarships for students in the College of Business Administration, the Iowa Math Coalition and international opportunities. Today, Aegon/Transamerica employs nearly 200 UNI graduates in accounting, real estate, finance and information technology. The company is committed to education and literacy. They support programs with a mission to provide knowledge and to expand individuals capabilities, especially in the areas of financial literacy.

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