Celebrated alumni to be honored at Homecoming

Educators, advocates and an expert in law round out the 2005 class of Emporia State University's Distinguished Alumni, the most prestigious award given to ESU alumni.

The five recipients will be honored at the 2005 Distinguished Alumni Luncheon, at 11:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, in the Memorial Union Ballroom, and throughout Homecoming weekend.

Since its inception in 1960, the award program has recognized the outstanding professional accomplishments of 186 of ESU's finest graduates. A selection committee, comprised of members representing the Alumni Association, the ESU Foundation, the faculty and the president, chooses up to five recipients each year.

This year's recipients are:

Mary E. ( Anderson ) Devin (BSE 1961)

Junction City , Kansas

Associate Professor, Kansas State University

Mary Devin began her career at Geary County USD 475 as an elementary teacher. She retired in 2004 after 12 years as superintendent of Geary County Schools. Her 40 years with Geary County includes numerous promotions, board memberships such as the Kaufmann Foundation, and awards including Kansas Superintendent of the Year. Devin received both her MSE in curriculum and instruction and her Ph.D. in educational administration from Kansas State University , where she has been an associate professor since 1998.

William J. Greene, Jr. (BSB 1970, MS 1971)

Washington , D.C.

Founder and President of New Life, Inc

Counselor, Sharpe Health School

William Greene is a recipient of honors such as the Humanitarian Certificate from President Richard Nixon and admittance into the Wheelchair Sports USA Hall of Fame. Since completing college at ESU, Greene has been improving the lives of disabled youth as an advocate and delegate, counselor at Sharpe Health School and founder and president of New Life, Inc. in Washington , D.C. New Life, Inc. provides sports programs, peer counseling and coaching in the Wheelchair Sports USA races.

Peggy Lamm (BSE 1973)

Superior , Colorado

Executive Director of Bighorn Action, Bighorn Center for Public Policy in Denver

As executive director of Bighorn Action, Peggy Lamm's job is to advocate for the mission of the Bighorn Center for Public Policy. This type of appointment is not unfamiliar to the former chairman of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and past member of the Colorado House of Representatives. Lamm's accomplishments also earned her the position of co-chair on the independent panel that investigated the Colorado University football scandal.

J. Andy Tompkins (MS 1973)

Topeka , Kansas

Retired Commissioner of Education, Kansas

For nine years, Andy Tompkins served as the Kansas Education Commissioner, the highest ranking education official in the state. He oversaw difficult issues such as the evolution controversy, the Quality Performance Accreditation program and the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. Prior to employment as education commissioner, Tompkins was a teacher and a superintendent, and interim dean and department chair at Pittsburg State University . In 2004 he received the Kansas University School of Education Alumni Distinguished Service Award, where he earned his Ed.D. in education administration.

Deryl Wynn (BFA 1983, BSB 1983)

Kansas City , Kansas

Attorney, McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips, P.A.

After earning a law degree from Washburn School of Law, Deryl Wynn served as Captain in the United States Army and Chief Prosecutor for Army installations. Currently, Wynn is an attorney and shareholder for McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips where he practices school/education law, not-for-profit law and labor/employment litigation. He has served on the Kansas Board of Regents, the Kansas City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the Library. Wynn has received the Wyandotte Country Citizenship Award and the Kansas Friends Award.

The 2004 recipients were Mark Austenfeld (BS 1979), Raymond Blackwell (BS 1967), Wallace Fujii (BSE 1958, MS 1959) and Evan Lindquist (BSE 1958).

Last Updated July 2, 2007>