Honorees at the Alumni and Friends Gala were, from left, Alberto Ibargüen, president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Mary Taylor ’90, ’98, lieutenant governor, State of Ohio; Richard W. “Dick” Pogue ’04, retiring chair of UA’s Board of Trustees; Laura K. Thompson ’87, ’92, executive vice president and CFO, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; Thomas L. “Tim” Stover, M.D., president and CEO of Akron General Health System; and Vernon Sykes ’01, faculty director of Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues, Kent State University.
MORE THAN 275 GUESTS gathered May 14 for the Alumni and Friends Gala in the Student Union Ballroom. The event is hosted annually by the Alumni Association.
During the evening’s festivities, the Alumni Honor Award was presented to three individuals who have achieved distinction in their chosen fields or have demonstrated loyal and active interest in their alma mater. Additionally, the Honorary Alumni Award was presented to two individuals who have rendered valuable service to the University and/or the community.
This year’s Honorary Alumni Award recipients are:
- Alberto Ibargüen, president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
- Thomas L. “Tim” Stover, M.D., president and CEO of Akron General Health System
Ibargüen received his award just hours after he announced the launch of the National Center for Choreography here at UA. The Knight Foundation is providing $5 million to support the center, only the second in the nation, where the country’s finest dance professionals will create new work.
Ibargüen, who served in the Peace Corps, practiced law and worked for more than 20 years in the news business, including as publisher of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald,both Knight Ridder newspapers. During his tenure, The Miami Herald won three Pulitzer Prizes and El Nuevo Herald won Spain’s Ortega y Gasset Prize for excellence in journalism.
Stover, a Fellow of The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, joined the Akron General Health System in 1993. He accepted his current position in 2012 after having served in leadership positions since 1996. Both Stover and the Akron General Health System are loyal supporters of UA. Close to 700 alumni work there and the system provides annual support to UA for its Cameos of Caring Nursing event, which recognizes outstanding nurses in the area.
This year’s Alumni Honor Award recipients are:
- Vernon Sykes ’01, faculty director of Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues, Kent State University
- Mary Taylor ’90, ’98, Lieutenant Governor, State of Ohio
- Laura K. Thompson ’87, ’92, executive vice president and CFO, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Sykes, who served on Akron City Council and in the Ohio House of Representatives, is an associate professor of political science at Kent State. His contributions to his alma mater include chairing the committee that led to the relocation and modernization of UA’s Black Cultural Center and the establishment of what is now the Dr. Shirla R. McClain Gallery of Akron Black History and Culture. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Office of Multicultural Development.
Taylor is now in her second term as Ohio’s 65th Lieutenant Governor. Earlier in her career, she served in the state legislature and was elected in 2006 as auditor of state. A certified public accountant, Taylor is credited with transforming the office into a nationally recognized, 21st century government auditing firm. She and her husband, Don ’09, have been involved with the College of Business Administration, Hower House and other areas of UA as well.
Thompson joined Goodyear in 1983 and served in various financial and accounting positions, both in business units and corporate staff, before assuming her current role in 2013. Thompson is a member of the Advancement Council for the College of Business Administration. Both she and Goodyear have supported lectures, chairs and scholarships in the CBA, School of Law and the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering.
Also honored at the event was Richard W. “Dick” Pogue ’04, retiring chair of UA’s Board of Trustees. Pogue, first appointed to the Board in 2004 for a limited term and reappointed in 2006 for a full term, has served as chairman since July 1, 2012. A senior advisor to the Jones Day law firm, Pogue also serves on the board of The University of Akron Foundation and has been a trustee of Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals of Cleveland and many other institutions.
Speaking at the event were President Scott L. Scarborough and Judge Randolph Baxter ’74, retired Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court North Ohio District, who is president of the National Alumni Board of Directors.
Kyle Kutuchief ’06, Akron program director of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, was the emcee.