At Ball State University, Homecoming Week is as much an opportunity for the alumni to celebrate school spirit as it is for students.
Among other events this weekend, there will be a dinner Friday night at the Alumni Center to recognize outstanding alumni.
The Benny Awards-
The top honor for service to the university or the Alumni Association
Recipients of this award include: Kathy Hutson, Sarah Maisto, Steve Bell, David McIntosh and the Bowling Center, owned by Stan Kunkel. All of these individuals live and work in Indiana and contribute greatly to the university.
Hutson earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in health science and an associate degree in nursing from Ball State. She has contributed to the Alumni Association by serving on the Alumni Council from 2003-2008.
Maisto earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ball State in 1996. She has served on various alumni committees and is now the marketing communications manager for Goodwill Industries in Indianapolis, IN.
In 1992, Bell became involved with the university as the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball chairman of telecommunications. He held this position for eight years and went on to be a teacher in the department.
McIntosh has earned a master's degree and a doctorate in educational psychology from the university. He is deeply involved with alumni of Teachers College, and he is the Distinguished Professor of Special Education in the Department of Special Education at Ball State.
Alumnus Stan Kunkel, owner of Bowling Center, Inc., graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1978. The Bowling Center is being recognized for its support of the Adams Wells Alumni Chapter.
Distinguished Alumni Award-
Three Ball State University alumni will receive the highest recognition, the Distinguished Alumni Award
These men are now representing Ball State University through their successful careers in Georgia, California and Muncie.
Erwin Mueller received a bachelor's degree in music education from Ball State in 1954, and is now a professor of music at the university. He has received various awards as an outstanding teacher and faculty member of the department of music. Mueller is the timpanist and principal percussionist with the Muncie Symphony, and he coordinates the percussion area, teaches studio percussion and directs the Ball State marimba/percussion ensembles.
Roger Neuenschwander graduated from Ball State in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in of architecture. As the president of Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, Inc. in Atlanta, he has doubled its revenue and number of employees. In 2003, he was admitted to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in recognition of his work in the profession.
Randall Pond received a bachelor's degree from the university in 1977. He started working at Cisco as director of manufacturing operations in 1993, and has been through many promotions within the company.
Recipients will be honored during Homecoming Weekend and at a recognition dinner tonight at the Alumni Center.
G.O.L.D. Award-
Eight recent alumni will be recognized for their success in their professional field and active public service to the community, nonprofit organizations, professional organizations or the college
For the Graduate of the Last Decade award, the description is in the name.
Recipients this year include: Ehren Bingaman, Kate Endress, Jerry Hartley, Shannon O'Dell, Billy Riggs, Peter Sampson, Carlos Taylor and Richard Turvey.
These recipients have received undergraduate degrees from Ball State within the last ten years, either as traditional or non-traditional students.
The education they have received from Ball State has led some of these alumni to become deeply involved in initiatives in Indiana, such as Sampson who has been a band director in Greentown, since 1999. During his time at Eastern Jr./Sr. High School in Greentown, the band department was awarded the ISSMA All-Music Award.
Others are putting their expertise to work overseas, like O'Dell, who is now a reading recovery teacher and literacy coach at an elementary school in Germany.
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