UC Blue Ash celebrates excellence at the 2026 Distinguished Awards ceremony
The University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College hosted its annual Distinguished Awards Ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 1 in the Muntz Hall Atrium to recognize the exceptional accomplishments of faculty, staff and alumni.
It was a fun night celebrating the honorees with their families, friends and colleagues. The first hour of the event featured a reception that was followed by the awards ceremony.
Guests watch one of the honoree videos at the Distinguished Awards. Approximately 100 people attended the event. Photo/UC Blue Ash.
During the ceremony, UC Blue Ash Dean Robin Lightner, PhD, introduced each award winner and highlighted some of their achievements that led to the special recognition. The honorees were recognized for outstanding work in research, teaching, student support, service and noteworthy success in their profession.
“Winning a UC Blue Ash Distinguished Award is quite an accomplishment when you look at the high level of talent, dedication and achievement that we see throughout our college and across our more than 27,000 alumni,” noted Lightner.
Each recipient was featured in a video where they shared a little bit about the work they do, what inspires them to pursue excellence and how they reacted to being selected for their award.
UC Blue Ash Professor Chuck Emenaker, left, credits his high school teacher, Dan Finfrock, right, with inspiring him at an early age to go into teaching. Finfrock attended the event to see his former pupil win the 2026 Distinguished Teaching Award. Photo/UC Blue Ash.
Below is the full list of the 2026 UC Blue Ash Distinguished Award winners. Watch videos of each award recipient.
Faculty Distinguished Award Winners
- Chuck Emenaker, PhD, Distinguished Teaching Award
- Heather Ferris, Outstanding Faculty Service Award
- Jessica Furgerson, PhD, Innovative Teaching Award
- Yalcin Karatas, PhD, Exemplary Scholarship Award
- Tamika Odum, PhD, Provost Award for Faculty Excellence
- Betsy Powell, Honored Adjunct Teaching Award
Staff Distinguished Award Winners
- Rene Barnett, Staff Distinguished Service Award
- Emily Lopez, Rising Star Award
- Katie Pealer, Community Enrichment Award
- Breen Reardon, Staff Student-Centered Award
Outstanding Alumni Award Winners
- Mark Brueggeman - Outstanding Alumni Award
Featured photo: Winners of the 2026 Distinguished Awards gathered for a group photo. Not pictured is Mark Brueggeman, the Outstanding Alumni Award winner. Photo/UC Blue Ash.
About UC Blue Ash College
UC Blue Ash College is a regional college of the University of Cincinnati. It combines the resources and academic excellence of UC with low tuition, personal attention and a welcoming campus community that is nationally recognized for advancing student success. The college is located on a scenic 135-acre wooded campus in the heart of Blue Ash, Ohio. To learn more, visit us online, call 513-558-9495, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X and Instagram.
Related Stories
UC Blue Ash adds new recognition to annual Distinguished Awards
October 14, 2024
The University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College added a new feature to its annual awards ceremony that recognizes faculty, staff and alumni for outstanding achievements and impressive work throughout their career.
UC Blue Ash professor finds inspiration in documents from nation’s troubled past
August 21, 2020
A 1925 property deed owned by her late grandfather inspired Rhonda Pettit to address racial segregation and institutional racism in her poem ‘A Deed Supreme.’ It is one of two poems by Pettit included in the Anthology of Appalachian Writers Crystal Wilkinson Volume XII, which was recently released by the Shepherd University’s Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities.