Distinguished alumni from fields as diverse as theatre,
athletics, politics, photography, interdisciplinary technology
and the law, along with an innovative professor, will be
honored at Eastern Michigan University's 48th annual Alumni
Awards Dinner Saturday, May 9, at the Ypsilanti Marriott
and Eagle Crest Conference Center.
Hosted by the EMU Alumni Association, the evening will
begin with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner
and program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $55 per person or $400
for a table of eight, and can be purchased by contacting
the Office for Alumni Relations at (734) 487-0250.
"We take great pride in the caliber of the award recipients
and appreciate our alumni and friends nominating these
deserving individuals," said Vicki Reaume, executive director
of Alumni Relations. "These illustrious honorees have followed
different paths, but all embody the dedication and values
they learned at Eastern Michigan."
 |
Blixt |
Actor and author David Blixt ('99) and attorney Terrence
J. L. Thompson ('02) are this year's recipients of the
Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Blixt is a Shakespearean
actor whose novel, "The Master of Verona," has been considered
by Disney Touchstone as a feature film. Thompson, an associate
with Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone in Detroit, is
a dedicated volunteer who mentors a number of EMU students
and is a member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metropolitan
Detroit.
 |
Reynolds |
Alumni Achievement Awards will be presented to Allen
D. Fazio ('89) and Nichole
Francis Reynolds ('97). Fazio is
a former EMU homecoming king who is now vice president
and chief information officer for Disneyland Resort in
Anaheim, Calif. One of his projects revolutionized how
guests purchase and redeem tickets within the theme park
industry. Reynolds is the chief of staff for U.S. Representative
Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) and was named one of 30 Young Leaders
of the Future by Ebony magazine.
Kenneth "Red" Simmons ('33) and Duane
Zemper ('42) will
receive Distinguished Alumni Awards. Simmons is a former
coach who is widely respected for his leadership role in
moving women's track and field into the mainstream. Athletes
he has coached include a number of Olympians and the first
woman to win the Boston Marathon. Zemper's collection of
negatives and photographs from World War II has been requested
by the Smithsonian Institute and were featured in an award-winning
documentary.
 |
Stevens |
Ken Stevens, an EMU professor and director
of the EMU Theatre, will be honored with the Dr. John W.
Porter Distinguished Service Award for his numerous contributions
to the arts and the University. Stevens developed an interdisciplinary
arts management program, the first in the Midwest, and
has produced and directed productions around Michigan and
outside the state.
"These awards celebrate Eastern Michigan alumni and friends
who have demonstrated the value of their EMU experience
and who are generous with their time and knowledge," Reaume
said.
