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The Â鶹¹û¶³ 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 Â鶹¹û¶³. 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 Â鶹¹û¶³ 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

2020

• Distinguished Alumni Award - Judge Annalisa Stubbs Williams, ’77 
• Distinguished Citizen Award -  Nicholas E. Phillips, ’70
• Professional Achievement Award - Timothy F. Feltes, MD, ’77
• Professional Achievement Award - Terese Volk Tuohey, Ph.D. ’93
• Kent State Advocacy Award - Stephanie Sweany, ’05 
• Outstanding New Professional Award - Justin Rudy Gleason, ’16, MBA ’18, M.Arch ’18
• Golden Flash Award - Kayla Marker, ’21, MPH ’22

2019

• Distinguished Alumni Award - Matthew Likens, ’75
• Distinguished Citizen Award - Judy Isaacson Elias, ’82
• Professional Achievement Award - Dr. David M. Jarzen, ’67, M.A. ’69
• Professional Achievement Award - Dr. Cheryl Thompson-Stacy, ’79, M.Ed. ’82, M/B.A. ’93
• Kent State Advocacy Award - Sandra E. Zirke, ’68, M.Ed. ’73, Ed.S. ’80
• Outstanding New Professional Award - Connor J. Whelan, ’16
• Golden Flash Award - Elena Neoh, ’20

2018 

• Distinguished Alumni Award - John R. Elliot, ’70
• Distinguished Citizen Award - Carol A. Mancino, ’72 and Douglas M. Mancino, ’71
• Professional Achievement Award - Michael E. Rogers, Ph.D. ’96 and Ramesh Rajasingham, ’85, M.A. ’86
• Kent State Advocacy Award - Sandra C. Armstrong and Lawrence R. Armstrong, ’79, ’80
• Outstanding New Professional Award - Nick Belluardo, ’15
• Golden Flash Award - Chantrell M. Lewis, '19

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