Marshall University Alumni Association

Marshall University Alumni Association 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners

Building on the Past,
Building for the Future

A very special group of alumni and students were honored at the Alumni Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 12. The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Club received the Alumni Club of the Year award.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Beth McVey, who has enjoyed a successful 28-year career performing and starring in numerous shows, both on Broadway and across the country. Her Broadway credits include the original company of 42^nd Street, Annie, Nine, Phantom and Beauty and the Beast. She has had starring roles in four national tours and leading roles in about 20 productions at regional theaters across the country. The highlights include Mame in Mame, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Desiree in A Little Night Music, Evita in Evita, Julie in Showboat, and Kate in Kiss Me Kate. McVey attended Marshall from 1971-75 before transferring to Cincinnati Conservatory for her bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theatre.

In 2004 she moved back to Huntington, not to abandon her career in performing, but to allow herself to broaden her life to include teaching, directing and serving as executive director and on the board of ARTS. She is also on the executive board of the Keith Albee Performing Arts Center.

This award is given to Marshall alumni for outstanding national achievements in their particular fields of endeavor.

The Community Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Jeff St. Clair (MD’92), assistant clinical instructor in emergency medicine at New Orleans’ Charity Hospital, part of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. He is involved in the treatment of many of the 200,000 emergency patients seen per year. In 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, he was assigned to the Convention Center along with various Army military personnel where he assisted them in combat medical training which would not only help them in this hurricane devastation area, but also when they are shipped to Afghanistan and Iraq. St. Clair also provided medical trauma training aboard the USNS Comfort, a naval hospital ship docked at Poland Wharf in New Orleans. He has been seen in the Discovery Channel's Code Blue and Critical Hour television programs.

This award is given to alumni for success in their fields of endeavor and personal contributions to their respective communities.

The Distinguished Service to Marshall Award was presented to Mark George (BA’82), unit manager for Pepsi Bottling Company. He serves as president of the Marshall University Quarterback Club and the Big Green Scholarship Foundation. He and his wife, Samantha, have a young daughter, Ramey Rose.

The Distinguished Service to Marshall Award is given for loyal and unselfish service to Marshall, and is not limited to Marshall alumni.

The Carolyn B. Hunter Distinguished Faculty Service Award was presented to Dr. Michael (Mike) Little (BA’67, MS’74), chairperson of the Department of Integrated Science and Technology. Little has been with Marshall for 34 years and has taught a variety of courses in the Biology Department. He has worked with graduate students on projects dealing with fish genetic diversity and mobility of genetic elements in amphibians. For the past eight years he has taught courses in the Integrated Science and Technology Department with a focus on using geospatial technology in environmental assessment. Also, he works with the Rahall Transportation Institute as the director of the Education Outreach Program, bringing challenging and current science and technology to Appalachian learners. Little was the 2002-2003 Drinko Fellow at Marshall and recipient of a National Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology presented at the Ninth International Conference on College Teaching and Learning. He is married to Judy Little (BA’92), who has worked at Marshall for 19 years. They have one son, Bryan (BA’90) who earned a law degree from Capital University Law School, and is presently a senior attorney with Consumer Energy Company.

The Hunter Award was created by the MUAA for the purpose of recognizing outstanding achievements and providing incentives for continued service from faculty to the community, the university and students in their respective fields. Award nominees are evaluated on their professional service to the community and their service to the university and its students.

The 2008 Distinguished Alumnus in Manufacturing Award went to Hank Cox (BA’68), vice president of media relations with the National Association of Manufacturers. He is responsible for translating the NAM’s viewpoint on complex manufacturing issues into clear language and conveying the information to the news media, the association’s members and the general public. Cox is married to Cheryl Jaksich Cox of Perth, Australia. They have two daughters, Rachel and Sarah, and live in Takoma Park, Md.

This award is presented by the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI) in recognition of individuals who have made outstanding achievements in and contributions to the manufacturing sector.

A new award was presented by the College of Education and Human Services to Margaret Frances Shrewsbury in recognition of her outstanding and long career as a teacher. Read more about Ms. Shrewsbury here.

The award is in recognition of a deserving COEHS alum who has excelled in his or her field and is representative of the accomplishments and dedication of alumni from Marshall University.

The Nate Ruffin Scholarship was awarded to sophomores Kacy Winans and Joshua Curry. Photo at left: Bernie Coston, president, Black Alumni Inc.; Kacy Winans; Joshua Curry; and Sharon Ruffin, widow of Nate Ruffin. Janis Winkfield, Black Alumni president at the time the scholarship was established, was in attendance as well.

The scholarship is awarded to a graduate or undergraduate Marshall student with priority given to an African American full-time student with a 2.5 GPA or better as an undergraduate or 3.0 GPA or better as a graduate.

The Nancy Pelphrey Herd Village Scholarship went awarded to Huntington native Kristen O'Neal, a 2004 graduate of Spring Valley High School. O’Neal graduated with her first degree (medical transcription) from the Marshall Community and Technical College in 2007. She will finish her degree in medical assisting in summer 2008. She has played clarinet for the MU Marching Thunder for three years.

This scholarship was established in 1998 by the MUAA board of directors, in honor of Nancy Pelphrey, Herd Village coordinator. Funds from the scholarship come from proceeds from Herd Village.

The Cam Henderson Scholarship Award was awarded to senior history major Rachel L. Folden of Riverside, Calif. Folden, a member of Marshall’s softball team, is the three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s All-American; Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year; Conference USA Player of the Year and two-time first team member; and is on the National Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List. She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The Cam Henderson Scholarship was established by the Alumni Association in the name of legendary football and basketball coach Cam Henderson. It is given yearly to the student athlete who best exemplifies the spirit of scholarship while participating in athletics.

The Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Club was chosen as the Alumni Association Club of the Year. The club has worked endlessly to promote Marshall throughout the southwestern Ohio area. This year the members held a major tailgating event at the football game between the Thundering Herd and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, feeding and providing entertainment for the fans attending the game. The club later presented a check with proceeds raised at the tailgate to be split between the MUAA and the Big Green. The club additionally has held an annual golf event with proceeds benefiting the Big Green Scholarship Foundation.

The Young Alumni Award was presented to Jennifer Pritt (BA’94, MA’96) of Atlanta, Ga. Pritt is an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at South Cobb High School, which was recently featured on Good Morning America for its many honors and awards. At Kennesaw State University, she teaches ESL Literacy to students from Brazil, Columbia, El Salvador, Mexico and even Bulgaria. Pritt continues to volunteer with the Latin American Society of Atlanta and, in 2006, participated in a one-half marathon to help raise $5,000 for The American Stroke Association in Hawaii. One of her favorite activities is participating in the Atlanta MU Alumni Group. This past year she has organized the Atlanta MU Ladies' Group, as well as helped with the West Virginia day picnic and the golf tournament.

The criteria for the Young Alumni Award is that the person must be 35 years old or younger; an active member of the Alumni Association; show outstanding achievement in their field of endeavor; have a personal commitment to their community; and demonstrate service to the Marshall University and its students.

The MUAA Board Member of the Year went to Teddy Kluemper, '02, '05, for his outstanding participation, leadership and dedication to the Alumni Board and the mission of the Alumni Association. He has traveled to alumni events and worked diligently to strengthen our ties to our students and young alumni as he continues to promote the organization within the community.

The winner of this award must be successful in promoting the association’s vision statement among students, alumni and friends; promote the association’s core values; and work to move the association to the next level by bringing in new ideas.

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