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Join or renew now!Each of our Alumni Award recipients spoke during the 2012 banquet on April 28. Find out what they had to say.
View the videosFour individuals were honored during the 2012 banquet. View photos of each of the recipients.
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Where to stayIn November, a nominating committee selected by the Washburn Alumni Association board of directors selects candidates for four Alumni Awards: Distinguished Service Award, Monroe Award, Ritchie Award and GOLD Award.
After approval by the board, the award recipients are honored at a banquet during alumni weekend.
The 2013 Alumni Award recipients are Carol Vogel, Cynthia Heath, Gary Baker and Ingrid Bego. They will be honored at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 27 in the Memorial Union.
The cost to attend the event is $28 for members of the Alumni Association and $30 for non-members. For more information and to RSVP for the event, call 785-670-1641. Please RSVP by April 12.
The board welcomes your suggestions for award winners. Please submit names via email by Oct. 31.
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes alumni who have made personal and professional contributions to society. Nominees should have demonstrated exemplary support to the Washburn Alumni Association and the Association community, served mankind, have had distinguished career and/or brought honor to Washburn University through their accomplishments.
2013 HONOREE: Carol (Lyon) Vogel, ba
’67, Topeka: Vogel
has worked at Washburn for more than 40 years. After receiving a bachelor of
arts in German, she was an instructor of German from 1969 to 1974. For the next
36 years, Vogel worked half-time as an instructor and half-time as equal
opportunity director for the university. She has worked half-time as equal
opportunity director since 2010.
Vogel has received numerous awards, and her service to the community includes being a board member of the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity and Nonoso advisor.
Vogel on Washburn: “I think it’s safe to say that Washburn IS my career and is inseparable from my life. … I have been fortunate to have been associated with so many talented, caring and outstanding individuals on the faculty and staff. … The personal connections and friendships with my students and colleagues, as well as the fun of the classroom, have been highlights of my life.”
The Monroe Award honors a woman who has distinguished herself as a teacher, instructor, administrator or benefactor at the university and who has served the community and/or her profession.
The Monroe Award is named for suffragist, lawyer and publisher Lilla Day Monroe.
2013 HONOREE: Cynthia (Schmidt) Heath,
ba ’71, Chesterfield, Mo.: Heath,
who also has a juris doctor degree, is the vice president for executive
compensation for Emerson Electric Co. of St. Louis, a $24-billion manufacturing
company. She has also worked as employee benefits council at Emerson, in
private practice at Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C., and as a social science
teacher at Topeka West High School.
Heath is a member of Nonoso and was a member of Delta Gamma, Student Council, spirit squad and the gymnastics team while at Washburn. Among many service endeavors, she is a trustee of the Washburn University Foundation and a member of the board of directors.
Heath on Washburn: “Washburn provided the opportunity to participate in many activities and reinforced my competitive drive, especially through gymnastics. Both the academic and athletic experiences have served me well over the years. And I met my No. 1 supporter, David Heath, at Washburn.”
The Ritchie Award honors a man who has distinguished himself as a teacher, instructor, administrator or benefactor at the university and who has served the community and/or his profession.
The Ritchie Award is named for Col. John Ritchie, who donated the land on which Washburn is built.
2013 HONOREE: Gary Baker, longtime
professor, School of Business, Topeka: Baker
is a professor of finance at Washburn, where he has been teaching since 1975.
He also provides economic analysis for attorneys involved in personal injury and
death cases.
Baker, a recipient of the Jack and Betty Dicus and Ned Fleming Excellence in Teacher Awards, is involved in the Boy Scout Merit Badge program offered through Washburn and served as a pilot for the Angel Flight program, providing transportation for persons with medical needs.
Baker on Washburn: “As the number of years I have been at Washburn increases I find I enjoy students returning to campus and saying something like, ‘I remember being in your class … that was a good class, thanks.’ I also like, ‘My mom/dad was in your class a very long time ago.’ … I thought it was great fun when a senior pitched a tent in the library during finals week and slept there.”
The Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award honors alumni who demonstrate leadership in career or civic endeavors and loyalty to Washburn University.
2013 HONOREE: Ingrid Bego, ba ’03,
Hastings, Neb.: Bego
is an assistant professor of political science at Hastings College. A native of
Albania, she serves as panel chairwoman of the Midwest Political Science
Association and on the women and gender studies committee and
international/diversity programs advisory group at Hastings College.
Bego serves her community as a member of the YWCA diversity board and Multicultural Alliance of Hastings, Neb. She is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Sigma Iota.
Bego on Washburn: “Washburn is a community where everyone contributes to your experience as a student. … Washburn is the cornerstone of who I am today professionally, but also shaped me as an individual and contributing citizen. … Everyone I came in touch with at Washburn supported me in all the ways possible, inspired me to pursue my dreams and to persevere when things became hard.”