EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan State University Alumni Association will present 13 major awards at its annual Grand Awards ceremony Thursday, Oct. 2, during MSU’s Homecoming Week.

A reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. and the dinner is at 6:15 p.m. in the Big Ten Rooms at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.  Advance registration is required.

A total of five distinguished alumni, two philanthropist, three alumni service, one honorary alumni, and two distinguished young alumni awards will be given to alumni and friends of the university.

The following individuals were chosen by the awards committee of the MSU Alumni Association’s National Alumni Board.

Recipients of Distinguished Alumni awards are: 

• Henry Butler, Denver, Colo., a musician and composer who received his master’s degree in 1974.
• Robert Goodman, Greenwich, Conn., a retired economist from Putnam Investments who received his master’s and doctoral degrees in 1965 and 1970, respectively.
• Diane Neal, New Albany, Ohio, chief executive officer of Bath & Body Works, who received her bachelor’s degree in 1979.
• Russell Palmer, Philadelphia, chairperson of the Palmer Group, who received his bachelor’s degree in 1956.
• Sharif Shakrani, Bath, MSU professor and co-director of the Education Policy Center in the College of Education, who received his master’s and doctoral degrees in 1969 and 1973, respectively.

These awards are presented to alumni who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service and have achieved the highest level of professional accomplishment, including special honors or recognition, and have demonstrated personal integrity and character.

Recipients of the Philanthropist Awards are: 

• Alvin and Irene Arens, Okemos. Alvin Arens is a retired MSU professor, researcher and author, who shares the award with his wife, Irene Arens, his partner in all things personal and professional.
• Robert and Julie Skandalaris, Bloomfield Hills. Robert Skandalaris, who received his bachelor’s degree in 1974, is the chairperson of Quantum Ventures of Michigan; Julie Skandalaris is a registered nurse.

These awards are presented to an individual, family, association, corporation or foundation with a proven record of providing major, ongoing financial support and leadership to MSU. Award recipients

have demonstrated outstanding philanthropic responsibility toward MSU and their generosity has encouraged others to take leadership roles toward MSU.

Recipients of the Alumni Service Awards are:

• Barbara Sawyer-Koch, East Lansing, former MSU Board of Trustees member who received her master’s of public administration degree in 1990.
• Clarence Stewart, Bath, a game bird specialist with the state Department of Natural Resources, who received his bachelor’s degree in 1972.
• Stephen and Karen Wolf, Grand Rapids, who both received their bachelor’s degrees in 1982. Stephen Wolf is vice president of human resources at Aquinas College; Karen Wolf is a consultant based in Grand Rapids.

These awards are granted to alumni who have demonstrated continuing outstanding volunteer service to MSU and/or meritorious public service on a local, state, national or international level. Recipients possess the highest standards of integrity and character, positively enhancing and affecting society and the prestige of the university.

The recipient of the Honorary Alumni Award is:

• Mordechai Kreinin, East Lansing, a University Distinguished Professor of economics at MSU.

Honorary Alumni Awards are given annually to individuals who have demonstrated continuing outstanding volunteer service to MSU on a local, state, national or international level and who possess the highest standards of integrity and character to positively reflect and enhance the prestige of MSU. 

Recipients of the Distinguished Young Alumni Award are:

• Christopher Brown, Grand Rapids, an attorney and partner with Miller Johnson, Grand Rapids, who received his law degree in 1999.
• Ryan Vartoogian, Lansing, chief executive officer and founder of Spartan Internet Consulting in Lansing, who received his bachelor’s degree in 2001. 

This award is given annually to candidates who have distinguished themselves by obtaining a high level of professional accomplishment and who possess high standards of integrity and character to positively reflect and enhance the prestige of MSU. These individuals demonstrate a commitment to MSU by continuing outstanding volunteer service on behalf of the university and/or participation and leadership in meritorious public service on a local, state, national or international level.

To register for the event call the MSU Alumni Association at (517) 355-8314.

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Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 14 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.