Past Award Winners
The Alumni Award of Excellence was established in 1985 and has been awarded to more than 25 distinguished alumni. Past award winners are listed below:
| Year of Award and Name | Occupation at time of award |
|---|---|
| 2021- Dr. Phyllis Lee '57 | Social justice, equity and inclusion pioneer. Retired from OSU as their director of Equity and Inclusion and has spent her whole life fighting for social justice. |
| 2020- Micheal Morgan '70 | Retired school administrator. Builds furniture and volunteers in his community. |
| 2019- Jer Pratton '68 | Retired school administrator. Jer spent his career as a teacher and superintendent in multiple school districts in Oregon. He retired from Hermiston School District and he and his wife Norah reside there now. |
| 2018- Lynn Hamersly '64 | Retired from teaching. Passionate about helping others, reading and learning as well as volunteering. Selfless service in both giving personal donations and raising money from others. |
| 2017- Betty Komp '90, '92 | Retired representative from Oregon State Legislature. An advocate for education and educators during her tenure in the legislature. Currently serves on the WOU Board of Trustees and is a great supporter of WOU and it's students. |
| 2016- Dennis Tichenor '66 | Successful business man, established Education Travel Services, Inc. which helps students travel to Washington D.C. and other historic sites to learn about citizenship. Is also known for his generosity and charitable giving. |
| 2015- Dr. Lance Marr ’93 | Medical Doctor specializing in urology. Works at the Portland Clinic and volunteers time to help fund raise and support the men’s basketball program |
| 2014- Charlie Dolezal ’79 | Assistant Vice President for Standard Insurance Company, scholarship founder and public speaker |
| 2013- Cori Frauendiener ’67 | Director of Education Partnerships at MaPS Credit Union, serves on various boards within the community and state. Also honored as Oregon Business Person of the Year in 2005 |
| 2012- Zellee Allen ’93 | Founder and Executive Director of Parternships in Community Learning |
| 2011- The Honorable Judge Marco Hernandez ’83 | He served as a circuit court judge in Washington County from 1995 until 2011, including as presiding judge for three years. He was nominated for a federal judgeship with the United States District Court for the District of Oregon three times under two U.S. Presidents, and confirmed as judge in February 2011 |
| 2010- Vicki Chamberlain ’80 | Executive Director of Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, she establishes, upholds and enforces professional standards of excellence and communicates those standards to the public and educators for the benefit of Oregon students |
| 2009- Ron DeVolder ’68 | Successful business man, exemplifies how a Western Oregon University alum can directly make a positive impact on the students and the university |
| 2006- Gerald Girod ’65 | Former dean of the WOU College of Education and research professor in the Teaching Research Institute, who authored numerous publications on connecting teaching and learning |
| 2004- Lane Shetterly ’77 | Former member of the Oregon House of Representatives and director of Oregon’s Department of Land Conservation and Development |
| 2003- John Purdy ’78 | Winner of three Fulbright Awards to Germany and New Zealand and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities the study of Native American culture and literature |
| 2002- Edmund D. Brodie Jr ’63 | Professor, internationally recognized researcher and the Biology Department head at Utah State University |
| 2001- Brook Macnamara ’80 | Founder of In Harmony, an organization dedicated to quality, comprehensive preventive services for children |
| 2000- Marv and Rindy Ross ’73 | Founders of the historical and educational Trail Band |
| 1999- Robert Slawson ’29 | Retired teacher and educator with 42-year career in Oregon |
| 1998- Randy Franke ’73 | County Commissioner, Marion County, Oregon |
| 1997- Bill O’Neil ’79 | Deputy Fire Marshal, Marion County, Oregon |
| 1996- Jack McKenzie ’72 | Physiologist and Research Professor, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland |
| 1995- Edward Palmer ’59 | Education research professor, co-founder, Children’s Television Workshop (Sesame Street) |
| 1994- La Verne Davis ’69 | Teacher, counselor, curriculum designer and principal for Portland Public Schools |
| 1993- William E. Segura ’74 | Former president of Chemeketa Community College in Salem and chair of Oregon Gov. Roberts’ Transition Team Task Force on the High-Performance Operations of Government |
| 1992- Jon Mangis ’67 | Director of Oregon’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs |
| 1991- David Heil ’79 | Associate director at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, host of the Emmy Award-winning PBS science series, “Newton’s Apple” |
| 1990- Michael E. Holland ’70,’72 | Former commissioner of Community College Services with the Oregon State Board of Education |
| 1989- Rex Rabold ’72 | Teacher, student of the theatre and professional actor with the Oregon Shakespearean Festival |
| 1988- Wallace W. McCrae ’29 | Teacher, principal, superintendent, former president of Blue Mountain Community College, and member of the Oregon State Board of Education and Oregon State House of Representatives |
| 1987- Edith Green ’30 | U.S. Representative from Oregon’s Third Congressional District, known as “Mrs. Education” |
| 1986- Carol Miller Clanfield ’35,’57,’61 | Master teacher, principal, and education administrator for the Oregon Department of Education |
| 1985- Hoyt C. Cupp ’77 | Former superintendent of the Oregon State Penitentiary |
**If you know an alum who deserves to be recognized, be sure to nominate them for the Alumni Award of Excellence. Submissions will be accepted from November, 2016 to March, 2017.
