Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Jap Illinois College will rejoice the accomplishments and ambitions of its 2023 Alumni Awards recipients throughout this week’s Homecoming festivities on Saturday, October 7. Ten recipients might be acknowledged at this 12 months’s Alumni Awards Dinner, which can happen within the College’s Grand Ballroom, positioned within the Martin Luther King, Jr. College Union on campus at 600 Lincoln Ave., Charleston. A cocktail reception will start at 6 p.m. with dinner and award shows to comply with at 7 p.m. This 12 months’s honorees embody:
– Andre Allen ’12, ‘14
Excellent Younger Alumni Award
Chief DEI Officer for Peoria County Authorities and Metropolis Council member, Allen is a high chief within the Better Peoria space and is at the moment pursuing a Ph.D. in increased training administration.
– Cori Copeland ‘77
Distinguished Educator Award
Copeland as a retired instructor who taught music for 35 years in southeastern Illinois. She at the moment represents Neora Worldwide, a skincare and wellness firm, and may be very lively together with her Fairfield, IL church household.
– June Giffin ’48
Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award
Giffin was an EIU student-athlete who spent 20 years working on the college as a tutorial division workplace supervisor and workers member within the division of grants and analysis. She has made a lifetime dedication to serving EIU and its college students by beneficiant monetary contributions and volunteer work.
– Kimberly Cheatle ‘92
Distinguished Alumni Award
Cheatle is the twenty seventh Director of the U.S. Secret Service, tasked with the profitable execution of the company’s built-in mission of safety and investigations. She oversees a various workforce of greater than 7,800. She beforehand labored for PepsiCo and as a particular agent in a wide range of high-level organizations.
– Dr. Brandon Combs ‘03
Distinguished Alumni Award
Combs is a profitable enterprise proprietor, public servant and supporter of EIU. Because the mayor of Charleston since 2015, he has been dedicated to serving all residents whereas supporting EIU’s mission of offering a top-notch instructional expertise for all college students. Combs additionally operates Combs Chiropractic & Park Hills Spa in Charleston along with his spouse, Ashley.
– Howard Kamerer ’91, ‘92
Distinguished Alumni Award
Through the previous 25 years, Kamerer has began, grown and developed a wide range of firms in varied markets, producing the identical outcomes: constant exponential development. Kamerer additionally beforehand served as president and CEO or Startec International Communications; president and COO of Allied Telesyn; and founder, president and CEO of Redeye Community Group.
– Dr. Charles Maris ‘71
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Maris retired after a few years within the medical discipline and serving his nation within the US Military Reserve. He most lately was chief of surgical procedure and medical director of surgical companies at Carle in Urbana, the place he retired in 2014. He began at Carle in 1996 after years of working at Sarah Bush Lincoln.
– Stephanie Moritz ’95, ’02
Distinguished Alumni Award
Moritz is chief buyer innovation officer for the American Dental Affiliation. She has labored with different iconic manufacturers and companies in her greater than 25 years of expertise and is a founding member of Chief Chicago, a acknowledged keynote speaker throughout the nation, and a fierce advocate for autism and neurodivergent people.
– Tom Rodgers ’75
Distinguished Alumni Award
Rodgers had a protracted and profitable profession within the aerospace and protection business, having served as vice chairman of human assets at Thiokol Company and Alliant Tech Programs. Rodgers served on the board of administrators for United Method in Utah and was a volunteer for the 2002 Winter Olympic Video games, and continues to be an lively supporter of EIU from his Arizona house.
– Byran Stewart ‘80
Distinguished Alumni Award
Stewart’s profession in finance spans over 30 years as an skilled in state and native authorities. He served below two governors, together with fellow alumnus Jim Edgar; two mayors; and an Illinois senate president. Stewart was the primary African American in a number of roles throughout the State and is at the moment semi-retired as CEO of Stewart Group, which advises organizations and businesses on fiscal issues.
The dinner, sponsored by the EIU Alumni Affiliation, is held yearly along side Jap’s Homecoming celebration. These concerned about attending the 2023 Alumni Awards Dinner can nonetheless achieve this. Tickets, priced at $45 per individual, can be found by contacting the EIU Alumni Affiliation at (217) 581-6425. Full recipient biographies are featured at eiu.edu/alumni as nicely. A full itemizing of Homecoming occasions for college students, school and workers, neighborhood members and EIU alumni additionally is on the market at eiu.edu/homecoming.
EIU prepares college students to perform their life targets by a mixture of high quality teachers, private relationships, and each on-campus and on-line studying alternatives. For extra details about Jap Illinois College, together with its broad array of educational and profession readiness applications, or any of EIU’s different community-based companies and alternatives, go to eiu.edu or name EIU’s public data workplace at (217) 581-7400.
