[ alumni connections ]
2016 Alumni Award Recipients Six individuals received Alumni Association awards at the annual Awards Luncheon at SMSU. The event was part of Homecoming 2016, “Mustangs Unleashed.” ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Jerry and Ricke (Madsen) Bly SMSU alumni Jerry and Ricke (Madsen) Bly met at SMSU, and continue to be big supporters of the University years later. Jerry is a 1971 charter class graduate who met his wife Ricke while both were RA’s at what was then Southwest Minnesota State College. Jerry transferred to SMSU after a year at Augustana and received a Business Administration degree. Ricke pursued a degree in Elementary Education, which she earned in 1973. She recently retired from her position at the RTR School in Russell. Jerry began his 37-year career serving agriculture as a sales manager with Southwest Implement. Jerry retired two years ago as a Senior Account Representative from BASF. Jerry is on the Foundation Board and has been a key advisor as the University expands its ag-related academic offerings. Both were surprised at their Alumni Award selection, and appreciative for all the university has done for them to contribute to their professional success. They have two grown children, Eric Bly, and Megan Gronewoller, and three grandchildren. Eric and his wife Erica (Yingling) are also SMSU alumni. Bill Fenske Bill Fenske is a hometown boy who didn’t have far to go when he made his college choice. Bill is a Marshall native and a 1984 alumnus with a degree in Accounting. He earned his MBA from the University of Minnesota, and his Doctorate of Business Administration from Metropolitan State University. He is the Chief Financial Officer at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, a $100 million dollar, 1,000-employee company. He’s been there 10 years. Bill remembers receiving a great education at SMSU, and really enjoyed the small student-to-teacher ratio. “The atmosphere created a wonderful learning experience, both in the classroom, and socially, in the dorms.” Bill and his wife, Anne, have three children: Edwin, 25; Jack, 23; and Charles, 21. Ann Roemen It’s a long and winding road that brought Ann Roemen to where she is today: Executive Director at Independent Healthcare Associates and Chief Executive Officer of AccoCare, both in Sioux Falls. The Dell Rapids, S.D., native graduated in 1984 with a degree in Speech Communication: Radio-TV. Ann began her career as the assignment editor at KSFY-TV in Sioux Falls. She changed career paths and accepted a marketing position with University Physicians. While there she went on to earn her MBA. Ann stayed with the company for 16 years, the last five of which she was the executive director. Ann was recruited to lead Independent Healthcare Associates, a group which provides contracting, credentialing and educational services to independent physicians and hospitals. She has been in this role for nine years. She also serves as CEO of AccoCare, an Accountable Care Organization formed by physicians at Independent Healthcare Associates. She picked what was then SSU because she wanted to be somewhere close enough, and yet far enough way, from her home in Dell Rapids. Ann is married to Dan Beacom. Ann and Dan have three children: two sons, Jordan and Jonah, and a daughter, Hannah, a sophomore at SMSU.
From left: front row: Ann Roemen, SMSU President Connie J. Gores, Ricke Bly. Back row: Bill Fenske, Marilyn Strate, Sara Jones, and Jerry Bly.
HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP Marilyn Strate Teaching brings with it a deep satisfaction that drew Marilyn Strate to the profession years ago. Marilyn is an Associate Professor of Education within the PE Program, and teaches Recreation and Sports Management courses. The Nebraska native is in her 25th year at SMSU and was one of the coaches responsible for solidly establishing the softball program at the University. She became the fourth softball coach in program history, and her eight-year record is 225-138, a winning percentage of .620, second-best in program history. She has been active with Special Olympics in Marshall for over 10 years now. She was the national Special Olympics swimming coach in 2014, when the event was hosted at Princeton University. Her eight athletes brought home a total of 36 medals. She also the Physical Education teacher to home schooled students in the Marshall community. She has been active with the Boy Scouts in the past and is a merit badge counselor. Marilyn is the advisor for the American Sign Language Club, the Sports Management Club and the Ultimate Frisbee Club. She is the academic advisor for all Recreation and Sports Management majors and supervises all internships and practicums. Marilyn has a daughter, Kori, and four grandchildren and three greatchildren. Kori, who is married to Kalvin Guza, was an All-American swimmer at St. Cloud State. GRADUATE OF THE LAST DECADE (GOLD) AWARD Sara (Graf) Jones Volleyball runs through the veins of 2010 alumna Sara (Graf) Jones. The Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, native earned a degree in Accounting and is a financial analyst for UniPro Foodservice in Atlanta, Georgia. She joined the company in July 2010 and this is the fourth position she has held during that time. UniPro is the largest food distribution cooperative in the U.S. and has employed numerous SMSU graduates. Its former CEO sits on the Culinology Advisory Council and UniPro annually recruits top SMSU students, like Sara. Sara joined the Mustang volleyball team as a freshman in the fall of 2006 and after the Mustangs’ first tournament, they cracked into the national top25 rankings. They have not dropped out since. Sara married her husband, Robert Jones, this past July 30. For the complete bios of this year’s honorees visit: www. SouthwestAlumni.com/Awards
Nominations Accepted for 2017 Alumni Achievement Awards The SMSU Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the 2017 Awards to be honored at Homecoming on Friday, Sept. 30, 2017. ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD This award is presented to a graduate in recognition of professional success and the positive reflection made on the reputation of all Alumni of SMSU. HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP AWARD This award is presented to an individual or couple who are not alumni, but give their time, talents, and enthusiasm as if they were.
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GOLD (Graduate of Last Decade) AWARD This award is presented to an individual who has graduated from SMSU within the last ten years and has made an exceptional achievement and significant contribution to their profession, community, or university. JOHN & KATHY PAXTON ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD This award is presented to recipients who demonstrates outstanding service to Southwest Minnesota State University. To nominate someone, visit: www.SouthwestAlumni.com/Awards