Alumnus of the Year awardee Charlie M. Pleas IIIThe Delta State University National Alumni Association recently announced its 2016 alumni award recipients, who will be honored during a series of events Oct. 14-15 during the 84th Delta State Homecoming weekend.
The Alumni Association will recognize the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, the Hall of Fame inductees and the Alumni Service Awards. The Delta State Department of Athletics will honor the Athletic Hall of Fame, Coaches Hall of Fame and Distinguished Statesmen Award. In advance of formal announcements to follow, the Alumni Association released names of the winners today. To read more about the 2016 Sports Hall of Fame and awards winners, visit http://www.gostatesmen.com/news/2016/8/9/athletic-department-dsu-athletics-announces-2016-hall-of-fame-class.aspx?path=athleticdepartment.
The Outstanding Alumnus of the Year is presented to a graduate who has made significant contributions to human or institutional programs in which a situation, an institution or a movement has been materially changed for the better due to that individual’s personal participation. This year’s recipient is Charlie M. Pleas III ’87, of Germantown, Tennessee.
Induction into the Delta State University Alumni Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the DSU Alumni Association. Established in 2007, the Alumni Hall of Fame is extended to alumni and friends who have achieved professional distinction and made significant community service contributions at the local, national and/or international level, and who have thus brought honor and distinction to Delta State. This year, three distinguished alumni, along with Pleas, will be inducted into the hall: Charlene Bagwell Graham ‘64; Dwight Herlong ‘91; Bob “Pic” Billingsley ’83; and Walter W. Bettinger ’83.
The Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni Service Award recognizes outstanding service and contributions to Delta State by an alumnus. Richard Showse Myers ’91 will receive the award this year.
The Kent Wyatt “Young Alumnus” Service Award recognizes outstanding service and contributions to Delta State by a graduate 36-years-old or younger. The 2016 recipient is Matthew Parker Lipscomb ’04.
The Gladys Castle “Friend” of Delta State Service Award recognizes outstanding service and contributions to Delta State by a non-alumnus or institution. This year’s winner is Senator Eugene S. “Buck” Clarke.
The Legacy Award is presented to an alumnus or Delta State affiliated organization who made an institutional changing impact at the university. This year, a previous National Alumni Association president will be recognized.
The Dr. Henry Outlaw Faculty/Staff Service Award was established in 2014 as a way to recognize former Delta State faculty or staff members who have had a significant influence in the life of the university and/or the National Alumni Association. Established by the National Alumni Association Board of Directors, and inspired by the Dedicated Statesmen Association, the award will be given this year to Dr. Wayne Blansett ’73, Delta State Vice President of Student Affairs Emeritus.
The National Alumni Association will be releasing more information about the 2016 winners in the fall edition of the Alumni & Foundation magazine.
The association has a variety of activities planned throughout Homecoming weekend. This year’s featured reunion is the class of 1966, which will be celebrating 50 years since graduating from Delta State College. The 1966 class will be inducted into the prestigious Golden Circle, which is a constituency group of the association that honors alumni who graduated at least 50 years ago.
The official hashtag for the 2016 Homecoming is #DSUHC16. For more information, contact the Alumni Association at 662-846-4660. To purchase tickets to the Alumni Awards Gala, contact the association at 662-846-4660 or http://www.deltastategiving.org/alumniassociation/homecoming2016.
To stay up to date on the Alumni Association’s activities, follow these social media sites: Facebook (Statesmen Graduates), Twitter (@DSU_Alumni), Tumblr (http://www.dsualumni.tumblr.com), LinkedIn (DSU alumni), Instagram (dsualumni) and You Tube (dsualumni1).
