2025 Chicagoans for Cincy! Celebration Digital Program
WELCOME
Jennifer Heisey, A&S ’97 Chief Alumni Officer
Jacki Adkins, A&S ’13
UC Alumni Chicago Network Leader
Antwone Cameron, CAHS ’14, CECH ’15 Chicagoans for Cincy! Committee Member
REMARKS
Rich Bundy President, UC Foundation
AWARDS PRESENTATION
Farid Amirouche, PhD, CEAS ’79, ’81, ’84 Outstanding Achievement Award
Francie Ruppert, Bus ’19, ’20 Emerging Leader Award
Bruce Hopple, Bus ’75, Law ’80 Distinguished Service Award
CLOSING REMARKS
Jacki Adkins, A&S ’13
UC Alumni Chicago Network Leader
Antwone Cameron, CAHS ’14, CECH ’15 Chicagoans for Cincy! Committee Member
Outstanding Achievement Award
This award is presented to Chicago-area UC alumni based on professional contributions and notable achievements in their fields.
Dr. Farid Amirouche is a three-time UC graduate who studied engineering science aerospace and mechanical engineering with a focus on biomechanics. Dr. Amirouche has developed broad experience in orthopaedic biomechanics and related areas, working on innovative new solutions from concept phase to market readiness. He is a Professor and Director of Orthopaedic Research at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vice Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at NorthShore University HealthSystem, an affiliate of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine; and senior research scientist at Jesse Brown Veterans Hospital in Chicago.
His specific expertise encompasses multi-scale, multi-physics design of medical devices; engineering biomaterials; and clinical strategies. Dr. Amirouche specializes in the significant aspects of intelligent prostheses and patient-specific implants, as well as specific product development, including advanced orthopedic technologies and intellectual property. His lab focuses on AI applications in Orthopaedics, image-guided surgical techniques, computeraided surgical instruments, and intelligent implantable medical devices and biosensors.
Dr. Amirouche is the author of several patents, including an innovative and revolutionary class of micro pumps with sensory feedback that can deliver multiple medications. He has also developed a smart knee device for balancing during Total Knee Arthroplasty, and additionally, he has created an intelligent socket for above-knee amputees, among other advancements. Dr. Amirouche collaborates closely with Harvard’s Mass General Orthopedic Department, the University of Chicago’s sports medicine team, and the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center and Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation at the Feinberg School of Medicine.
A fellow of ASME, Dr. Amirouche has received many awards and distinctions, and has been the CEO and president of several startups in the medical device industry.
Honorees
Emerging Leader Award
This award is presented to a Chicago-area UC alumnus based on early professional achievement, and/or recent service and involvement with the Univeristy of Cincinnati.
Bus ’19, ’20
Francie Ruppert is a Manager on the Global Menu Strategy Team at McDonald’s Corporation. She began her professional journey in 2019 as a McDonald’s marketing intern during her University of Cincinnati co-op rotation; in 2020 she transitioned into a full-time role as a Specialist on the company’s Alignment & Communications Team. She then advanced to a Supervisor position on the U.S. Brand & Menu Strategy Team, playing a key role in leading the execution and strategy for the Desserts category. She joined the global team in the fall of 2024, focused on governing all of McDonald’s core menu items around the world.
Francie is a proud UC alumna, big Bengals fan, and passionate Pilates instructor. She’s also a self-proclaimed “full-time Bridesmaid,” attending 11 weddings in 2024, many of them involving fellow Bearcat alumni. She resides in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Distinguished Service Award
This award is presented to a Chicago-area UC alumnus, who through their volunteerism elevate the University of Cincinnati.
Bus ’75, Law ’80
Bruce Hopple is a Senior Vice President for Avison Young’s tenant representation team, focusing on new business development and transaction advisory services for professional service firms, not-for-profits and local and national corporations. With more than 25 years of commercial real estate experience, Bruce is an expert in financial and market analysis, negotiation, and commercial real estate trends. Over the years, he has completed transactions valued at more than $2 billion for a wide range of clients.
Bruce’s community service has included board positions with Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, USO of Illinois, March of Dimes, Leadership Greater Chicago Fellows Association, the Pilsen/Rauner Family YMCA, and Chicago Office Leasing Brokers Association (COLBA). He has been a Bearcat since birth as both his parents were UC graduates, and he’s been involved with numerous UC activities since moving to Chicago in 1984. Most notably, Bruce has served as an active Chicago area alumni volunteer for over 25 years in a variety of ways, including his dedicated service on the Chicagoans for Cincy! planning committee. He was also instrumental in the success of the Sigma Sigma Men’s Honorary 125th Anniversary celebration, serving as a key member of the planning committee and lending his voice as Emcee for the Friday night event. His dedication and contributions made the celebration unforgettable, exemplifying his commitment to Sigma Sigma and UC.
Prior to joining Avison Young, Bruce was a senior director with Cushman & Wakefield, as well as a senior vice president at Colliers International and The Staubach Company. Before his career in commercial real estate, he served as in-house counsel for Chase Bank in Ohio and was an administrator at the University of Cincinnati. He earned two degrees from UC — a bachelor’s in business administration and a juris doctorate. He is a licensed real estate managing broker and is admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois.
Support the Chicagoans for Cincy!
Alumni Scholarship
Chicagoans for Cincy! supports scholarships that help Chicago’s best and brightest students receive a worldclass education at our alma mater, one of the nation’s top urban research universities. Since the Chicagoans for Cincy! Alumni Scholarship Fund was created in 2016, the endowment has grown to over $200,000, enabling us to provide an annual scholarship award for an incoming first-year student from the Chicago area, renewable for up to eight semesters.
Please consider making a gift to support the Chicagoans for Cincy! Alumni Scholarship.
