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Konneker Alumni Center
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Athens, Ohio 45701
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2015 Awardees

Clarence Page

Alumnus of the Year

Clarence Page, BSJ’ 69, HON ’93

Nationally syndicated journalist and champion for the Chicago Tribune

  • Recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes: the first in 1973, in public service, as part of a team investigating vote fraud, his second, in 1989, for commentary
  • Inducted into the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame
  • Recognized with the First Amendment Award from the Association of Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Lifetime achievement awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, the Chicago Headline Club, and the National Association of Black Journalists
  • Regular essayist for the PBS “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” and commentator on numerous other news programs
  • Enshrined in the Ohio Communication Hall of Fame in 2014, and was OHIO’s commencement speaker in 1993 and 2001
  • Served as a Trustee for The Ohio University Foundation Board
  • 1990 recipient of the Ohio University Alumni Association Medal of Merit
Rev. Dr. Joel C. Hunter

Medal of Merit

Rev. Dr. Joel C. Hunter, BS ’70

Longtime peacemaker and internationally recognized spiritual leader

  • Serves as an integral part of global initiatives like the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, bringing Evangelical Christianity and other American perspectives to leaders of nations such as China, Egypt, Great Britain, Ukraine, and Israel
  • Spiritual advisor to President Barack Obama on essential policy issues and interfaith relations
  • 30 years of service as senior Pastor for Northland, A Church Distributed, to a growing congregation of 20,000
  • Dissuaded violence and built interracial religious relationships on the local, state, national, and international levels
  • Recipient of the Better Man Ministry Award, Bible Society of Egypt Outreach Award, Children’s Environmental Health Network Award for Service, and was listed as one of Central Florida’s “50 Most Powerful Citizens” by Orlando Magazine for three consecutive years
Robert Shook

Medal of Merit

Robert Shook, MFA ’74

Award-winning professional theatrical designer

  • Founding partner of Schuler Shook, an international theatre planning and architectural lighting design firm
  • Consulted on over 200 performing arts facilities world-wide and designed over 180 theatrical productions in Chicago and the Midwest
  • Committed to educating professionals in the field by regularly presenting at conferences and serving on performing arts councils
  • Currently serving as President of the American Society of Theatre Consultants
  • Best known for his lighting design for Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Water Tower, the Calder “Flamingo” sculpture in Federal Plaza, and the Palmolive Building
  • Recipient of over 20 international awards for excellence in lighting design
  • Currently working with the College of Fine Arts at Ohio University to help lay the groundwork for the development of a new theatre in Dublin, Ohio, as well as teaching master classes on the Athens Campus
Art Stellar

Medal of Merit

Art Stellar, BSEd ’69, Med ’70, PhD ’73

National educational leadership visionary and superintendent

  • Helped schools acquire $110 million and raise achievement as Vice President of National Education Foundation and its subsidiary CyberLearning
  • Authored 500+ publications, along with being a four-time Fulbright Scholar
  • Recognized for leadership that transforms school systems into productive organizations generating higher performance, including turning around finances and educational results
  • Recognized for winning landmark school desegregation case at US Supreme Court that validated reduction in achievement gap between African-American and White students
  • Served on National Alumni Board, Trustees Academy, Co-Founder & President of Central Ohio Alumni Chapter, twice President of Massachusetts Chapter, and College of Education Promise Campaign and the Dean's Circle of Engagement
  • Recipient of 100+ recognitions for educational leadership, service, and excellence
  • Served as preisdent or member of various national professional and civic boards throughout his career, including the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Horace Mann League, and NY State PTA
Mike McTeague

Distinguished Service Award

Mike McTeague, MA ’67, EMER ’03

Devoted Professor Emeritus History and administrator at Ohio University Eastern Campus

  • 51-year career at OHIO spanning two regional campuses, dozens of courses, and six terms in the Faculty Senate
  • Recipient of the Austin Furbee Alumni Award for his service to OHIO’s Eastern Campus, and the Liberty Bell Award by the Belmont County Bar Association for distinguished public service
  • Instrumental in the renovation and furnishing of the “McTeague Reading Room” located in Shannon Hall, established in honor of his late wife Pat, who worked in the library on the regional campus for many years
  • Recently retired from his post as Associate Dean, having formerly served as Assistant Professor, Faculty Chair, and Acting Dean at both the Southern and Eastern Campuses
  • Former Director of Education for the Belmont Correctional Institution, current Board Trustee for the Belmont County Public Defenders Commission, and President of the Ohio Community Education Association
T.J. Simonik

Distinguished Service Award

T.J. Simonik, BBA ’07

Senior Wholesale Renewable Analyst and OHIO alumni networking champion

  • Currently working as a Senior Wholesale Renewable Analyst for Duke Energy’s Distributed Energy Resources Division, previously employed as a Assurance Senior Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
  • Assumed several leadership positions as an alumnus volunteer, including Vice President and President of the Charlotte, North Carolina Chapter; and as Secretary, Vice President, and President of the College of Business Society of Alumni and Friends
  • Transformed annual Charlotte Networking Week event and Charlotte Chapter into award-winning initiatives during his term as Chapter President
  • Represented the College of Business on the Leaders Advisory Council at OHIO for three years, and has been instrumental in growing the presence of the society to allow greater outreach: engaging OHIO students with companies offering professional internships
Ann Wagner Hill

Distinguished Service Award

Ann Wagner Hill, BSEd ’68

Dedicated educator and ardent Black alumni advocate

  • 43-year career with Columbus Public Schools as both an instructor and administrator
  • Founding member of the Columbus Black Alumni group, and co-creator of the premier OUAA event, Black Alumni Reunion
  • Continually promotes Ohio University through her civic involvement and service to youth community programs such as Links, Inc.; Helping Hands, Inc.; and presents to high school students in other community programs endorsing OHIO
  • Serves The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education on the unit’s Advisory Board and Dean’s Circle of Engagement, and by fundraising and advocating for diversity issues
  • Member of the Ohio University Advancement Board, 1804 Society and The Promise Lives Campaign Steering Committee
  • Recipient of over 15 local, state and Congressional awards for service, including the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Outstanding Community Service in 1992 and Master Teacher of the Year from the Martha Jennings Holden Foundation in 1996
Michael Logue

Charles J. and Claire O. Ping Recent Graduate Award

Michael Logue, BSA ’12, MBA ’13

Combat Veteran and pioneering military activist

  • Sought and recruited by the Air Force to operate as a civilian Contract Specialist at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, managing client accounts for national security projects
  • Former Corporal in Weapons Platoon for Lima Company, Third Battalion, 25 th Marines, Fourth Marine Division supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom III, which spent 210 of their 240-day deployment in combat
  • Nationally recognized for his role in a record-setting year for community fundraising through United Service Organization Tribute Cincinnati
  • Founder of the Combat Veterans Club—the first of its kind at OHIO— and served as Veterans’ Affairs Commissioner for Student Senate and as a member of the Veteran’s Support Committee as an undergraduate student
  • Instrumental in raising significant funds for veteran support at OHIO, including the establishment of the Veteran Alumni Society and the Office of Veterans Affairs on campus
  • Director of Peer Mentoring for Tristate Veterans Community Alliance
  • Influenced local, state, and national veteran affairs policy through public appearances, televised interviews, and involvement with government officials as a veteran advocate stakeholder
Alan Schaaf

Charles J. and Claire O. Ping Recent Graduate Award

Alan Schaaf, BSCS ’10

Founder and CEO, imgur.com

  • Creator of the 13 th most popular website in the U.S. and 44 th most popular website in the world, touting over five billion page views on the image-hosting website every day
  • Two-time recipient of the Best Bootstrapped Startup Award by TechCrunch, and Finalist for both Entrepreneur ’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and AdWeek ’s Hotlist Digital Favorites in 2014
  • Recognized leader in the tech industry for his technical skills, ability to scale, and business savvy
  • Launched Imgur as an undergraduate student, and incubated at the Innovation Center at OHIO, while also working as Web Director for ACRN, and hosting a talk show called Tech Talk
  • Raised $40 million of venture capital from Andreessen Horowitz and reddit, Inc.
  • Presented a TEDx talk in New Zealand entitled, “Breaking Outside of Your Friends List,” speaking to the role of social media and online communities in the evolution of today’s internet
Joanne Park-Simmons

The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Joanne Park-Simmons, BSSP ’00

OHIO Swimmer 1996-2000

  • All-MAC and a MAC Champion all four years of competition
  • MAC Swimmer of the Year in 1998 and MAC Senior Swimmer of the Year in 2000
  • Won 22 MAC Event Championships during her career and was named Team MVP in 1998
  • Three-time First Team All-MAC selection and Second Team All-MAC selection
  • Holds the MAC Records for most victories by an individual in 1998 and 2000
  • Still ranks in the top 10 in the 100 butterfly, the 200 and 400 freestyle relays, the 200 individual medley and the 400 medley relay in the Conference
  • In 2000, she was invited to swim at the British Olympic Trials
  • Currently a Police Sergent for the Northumbria Police department and has spent the last 13 years with the organization
Dion Byrum

The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Dion Byrum, BSSP ’06

OHIO Football 2002-2006

  • Named second team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press and Sports Illustrated
  • All-MAC First Team selection, MAC All-Star Selection and two-time MAC East Division Player of the Week
  • Set several special teams and defensive records, including the most career punt returns and most kick returns in a game, season and career
  • Touts the most interceptions in a season and career; most interceptions returned for touchdowns in a game, season and career, most career and season pass break-ups and had the longest interception return in a game
  • Played in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers from 2006-07 and played in the Arena Football League for the Colorado Crush in 2008 and the Orlando Predators in 2008 and 2010
Briana Adamovasky Schunzel

The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Briana Adamovasky Schunzel, BBA ’05

OHIO Volleyball 2001-2004

  • Four–year letter winner for the Bobcat volleyball team, and four-time All-Mid American Conference
  • Named MVP of the 2004 All-MAC Tournament Team
  • Set the MAC season assists per game record, was an Honorable Mention All-American, made the All-District/Mideast First Team, and was the MAC Player of the Year and All-MAC Academic in her senior season
  • Set the record for hitting percentage in MAC games, and set the MAC Career Assists record
  • Led her team to back-to-back MAC Championships and NCAA Tournaments in 2003 and 2004
  • Post-OHIO she has coached and worked in director and marketing roles with junior volleyball clubs and the junior volleyball association
Robert Willet

The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Robert Willet, BA ’66

OHIO Baseball 1963-66

  • Three-year letter winner for the Bobcats baseball team
  • All-American in 1966 when the All-American team was comprised of just eight position players and two pitchers
  • Named to the All-MAC, All-District and All-Region team in 1966 and First team All-MAC selection in 1965
  • Held the single season batting average record from 1960-1969 and is sixth all-time with a career batting average of .377
  • Led the nation during his tenure with a .471 batting average
  • Commanded his team to MAC Championships in 1964 and 65 and a second place finishes in 1963 and 66
  • The 1965 Bobcats held the single-season record for wins until 1970 with a 28-3 overall mark and holds the distinction for fewest losses in school history in the MAC baseball era
  • Went on to play for the New York Mets signing with the club in 1966