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As part of Homecoming activities, Friday, Oct. 15, Delta State University’s Alumni Association will recognize this year’s service award recipients, Nancy Gerrard, Michael Aguzzi, Rose Strahan, and Ronald (Ronnie) Mayers, all from Cleveland, during an Alumni Awards and Gala Dinner to be held in Walter Sillers Coliseum.
The awards are presented to alumnus who has made some significant contributions to human or institutional programs in which a situation, an institution or a movement has been materially changed for the better because of that individual’s personal participation.
The Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni Service Award recognizes outstanding service and contributions to Delta State University by an alumnus. The award is named for Hugh Ellis Walker who served as the director of the Delta State Alumni/Foundation for 24 years. Nancy Gerrard is the recipient of the 2010 the Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni Service Award. Gerrard graduated from Delta State Teacher’s College in 1950. She has served on the National Alumni Association Board of Directors, and has represented the Golden Circle constituent group as the President of the Golden Circle from 2006-2008. Gerrard has been very active in the Veteran’s Atrium project in Jobe Hall. She is married to Hal Gerrard and they have four children and seven grandchildren.
The Kent Wyatt “Young Alumnus” Service Award is presented to an alumnus 36 years of age or younger who has given outstanding service to Delta State. The award is named for former university president, Dr. Kent Wyatt who served for 24 years as president of Delta State. Michael Aguzzi, a 1997 graduate of Delta State, is the 2010 recipient of the award. He is a farmer in Bolivar County. While at Delta State, Aguzzi held various Student Government Association positions, served as Student Alumni Association President, and was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa. He also was named to the Delta State Student Hall of Fame and was elected Vice President of his graduating class.
His extensive involvement as a young alumnus includes continued service to Delta State as well as the Cleveland Community. Notable achievements include serving on Delta State’s Green and White Fund Board, three terms on the National Alumni Board serving as Young Alumni representative and Northern Mississippi representative. He was elected to the Cleveland/Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for two terms. Aguzzi was vice president of County Council and is co-chair of the Italian Festival of Mississippi. Professional involvement includes serving on Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmer and Rancher State Committee as well as the Bolivar County Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors where he is the current president.
The Gladys Castle “Friend of Delta State” Service Award is name for Gladys Castle, a 46-year employee of Delta State who served as the first alumni secretary. The 2010 award recipient is Dr. Rose Strahan. She served as chair of the Mathematics Department for 1978 to 2009. A graduate of Calhoun City High School and Hinds Junior College, she completed her degree in mathematics at Mississippi College in 1963. Strahan taught mathematics at Gulfport High School and Murrah High School before completing her master’s degree from the University of Mississippi and doctorate from the University of Florida in 1980.
Strahan served as Delta State’s Faculty Athletic Representative to NCAA from 2003 until 2009. In 2009 Rose made the largest planned gift of any employee of the University through a $750,000 life insurance policy. The Rose Strahan Endowed scholarships will one day result in approximately $30,000 in annual scholarship money for her beloved Math Department.
The Legacy Award is presented to a Delta State alumnus who made an institutional changing impact for Delta State University. Ronnie Mayers is the recipient of the 2010 Legacy Award. He received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Delta State. Known as one of the nation’s top collegiate swim coaches, Mayers spent 20 years as the head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams at Delta State. His teams captured five women’s New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference titles and four men’s championships. Mayers has also acquired 14 NSISC Coach of the Year honors. The swimming program under his leadership has produced 56 individual All-Americans and 21 Academic All-Americans. The Delta State teams made 15 N.C.A.A. Division II National Championship appearances. He began his career as an instructor in the Delta State Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation in 1976. He also served as the head coach of the Delta Aquatics team from 1974-1989. He is a member of the Delta State Alumni Association, Cleveland Noon Lions Club, United States of America Swimming Association, Mississippi Swimming, Inc., National Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. He was instrumental in seeking funding to build the aquatic center, a process which began in 1992 and culminated in 2001 with the completion of the project. He is married to the former Karen Scott of Natchez. They have one daughter, Ann Marie Pate.
Tickets for Alumni Awards and Gala Dinner are on sale now for $20 per ticket. For more information or to purchase a ticket, please contact the alumni office at 662-846-4660 or e-mail alumni@deltastate.edu.
