Alumni AssociationUniversity of CincinnatiAlumni Association

Alumni Association

Previous UC Alumni Award Recipients

2011 Recipients

William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement

A Cincinnati native, Dr. Wuest served as a UC faculty member from 1967 to 2001, and is currently Professor Emeritus of Pharmacy Practice. His former students and colleagues still speak of his teaching skills and ability to make all the components of the pharmacy curriculum come together. His influence continues through his work in developing the college’s board of advisors, which advises the dean on all matters of education, fundraising and professional interaction.

Watch the award presentation

Dr. J. Richard Wuest

Dr. J. Richard Wuest
Phar ’58, ’68, ‘71

Alumni Distinguished Service Award

Foley turned his UC co-op assignment at Dayton’s Harris-Seybold Printing Co. into a 37-year career there. Along the way, he never lost his fire for being a Bearcat and, more importantly, for fanning the flames in his fellow alumni. He and his wife of 50 years, Marlene, established and continue to fund a scholarship for first-year students in the College of Engineering & Applied Science; he sees this as “paying it forward” to help others realize the same college opportunity he had.

Watch the award presentation

Richard G. Foley

Richard G. Foley
CEAS ’61

Alumni Distinguished Service Award

Watkins was a mentor and “connector” with his fellow Bearcats as a student, so it was natural to continue as an alum after his 1992 graduation from the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences. His love for UC found a tremendous outlet through the UC Alumni Association, building and coordinating the Chicago alumni network. For 18 years, he has essentially been “Mr. UC” in ChicagoLand.

Watch the award presentation

David Watkins

David Watkins
A&S ’92

Jeffrey Hurwitz Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award

In his senior year on campus, McKenzie served as president of the Class of ’05, which found him leading a successful fundraising effort for that year’s Senior Gift. He also was a leader in UC’s Greek community, which has carried over as an alumnus. McKenzie has been a dedicated volunteer leader with the Greek Affairs Alumni Council, including current service as the organization’s co-chair.

Watch his response to the award

Drew McKenzie

Drew E. McKenzie
Bus ’05

Mosaic Award

Throughout his career, Abercrumbie has been driven to help create greater equity of opportunity for the underrepresented, and his efforts have earned him many distinctions. He is an accomplished educator, administrator, innovator, collaborator, advocate, ambassador and mentor. And through his efforts in those roles at UC, his determination and compassion have altered the institutional landscape.

Watch him on In Focus speak on the topic of the UC Alumni Assocation

Dr. P. Eric Abercrumbie

Dr. P. Eric Abercrumbie
A&S ’87

Mosaic Award

Dr. Edmondson has served in higher education, in the traditional healthcare field, and in the public sector, yet she has made perhaps her greatest impact working — hands-on and as a tireless advocate — with organizations bringing health-related opportunities to African nations. Currently, her efforts are expended on behalf of the humanitarian organization CARE International, which provides an array of emergency relief, post-disaster rehabilitation, and community-based projects to address countries’ most threatening problems.

Dr. Marilyn A. Edmondson

Dr. Marilyn A. Edmondson
Nur ’62, CECH ’76

2010 Recipients

William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement

Nancy Hamant was a teacher and administrator at local high schools before becoming an instructor and eventually an associate professor in the College of Education. Beyond classroom teaching, she was instrumental in accreditation review of schools nationally and even internationally, and she developed a reputation for expertise in training teachers and mentoring students, faculty and staff.

Watch the award presentation.

Nancy Hamant

Dr. Nancy Hamant
A&S ’57, CECH ’61, ’67


Alumni Distinguished Service Award

Bob Dobbs has been one of his university’s most passionate supporters and on-the-ground leaders, inspiring and cultivating excellence in academics, athletics, development, community service, and shaping the alumni experience.

Watch the award presentation.

Bob Dobbs

Robert Dobbs
Bus ’76, ’88


Alumni Distinguished Service Award (awarded posthumously)

Jim Kelly, Sr., was an institution at UC — a passionate player, coach, administrator, alumnus, ambassador and friend all rolled into one. His loss on January 12, 2009, was felt in all corners of the university community.

Watch the award presentation.

Jim Kelly Sr.

Jim Kelly, Sr.
CECH ’51, ’65


The Jeffrey Hurwitz Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award

Ryan Rybolt used his UC education as a springboard to a fast-rising career in the business world as well as becoming a dedicated leader for a variety of community causes. His company, Infintech LLC (Innovative Financial Technologies), of which Rybolt is president and chief operating officer, provides electronic payment processing to business clients nationwide.

Rybolt

Ryan Rybolt
Eng ’97


UC Alumni Association Mosaic Award

Becky Lee is an assistant professor in UC’s College of Nursing and an emerging national advocate for the delivery of health care to underserved populations.

Rebecca Lee

Dr. Rebecca Lee
RWC '01, Nur '03, '05, 08


UC Alumni Association Mosaic Award (awarded posthumously)

Linda Bates Parker was the director of UC’s Career Development Center for 22 years until her passing on December 10, 2009.

Linda Bates Parker

Linda Bates Parker
A&S ’70


UC Alumni Association Mosaic Award

Erin Riehle is the director of disability services and founder/co-director of Project SEARCH, a unique healthcare and education collaboration, for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

J. Erin Riehle

J. Erin Riehle
Nur ’81, ’92


2009 Recipients

William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement

Marjorie Motch has devoted her life to community service and volunteer leadership in the Cincinnati area, notably in the fields of girls’ and young women’s development.

Marjorie Motch

Marjorie McCullough Motch
Hon ’03


Alumni Distinguished Service Award  (awarded posthumously)

Glenn Sample, who passed away in November 2008, was a legend in the UC community as a student-athlete and later a record-setting coach and administrator, as well as the long-time official scorer for the Cincinnati Reds.

Glenn Sample

Glenn Sample
CECH ’53 


The Jeffrey Hurwitz Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award

Karl Zimmer is the vice president of supply chain for General Cable Corp.

Karl Zimmer

Karl J. Zimmer
Eng ’99


The inaugural UC Alumni Association Mosaic Award

Kenneth Davis, Jr is the assistant dean for diversity and community affairs, as well as professor of surgery and clinical anesthesia at the UC College of Medicine.

Kenneth Davis

Kenneth Davis, Jr., M.D.
A&S ’72


The inaugural UC Alumni Association Mosaic Award

Beverly Malone is the CEO of the National League for Nursing and a national leader in the health and nursing fields for many years.

Beverly Malone

Beverly L. Malone, Ph.D., R.N.
Nur ’70, A&S ’82