PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth State University (PSU) Alumni Association recently announced the 2018 Alumni Award recipients.
Seven alumni and two faculty members were recognized for their commitment to serving PSU, their professions and communities.
“Plymouth State University is extremely fortunate to have such exceptional, dedicated and caring alumni,” said Donald L. Birx, Ph.D., President, Plymouth State University.
“Their continued service to the University helps to set us apart from other educational institutions and inspires current students to consider how they can contribute to the PSU community – both while they’re on campus and when they graduate.”
The 2018 PSU Alumni Award recipients are as follows:
Graduating Senior Award of Excellence—Shannon Spaulding of Claremont, N.H., Class of 2018, was honored as a member of the incoming alumni class for exhibiting outstanding campus and community leadership while enhancing alumni activities.
At her time at PSU, Spaulding served as Speaker of the Student Body, Class President, Class Secretary and played for the Symphonic Band.
She plans to pursue legal graduate studies, building on her internship at the New Hampshire State House, fellowship for the Peace and Social Justice Studies Council, and membership in the Model United Nations.
Recent Alumni Award of Excellence—Meghan Lang of Fort Myers, Fla., Class of 2017, was recognized for her professional excellence and outstanding service to PSU, the Alumni Association, and the community.
Lang now works as a healthcare account executive at Gartner, a leading research and advisory company. She attributes her professional success to the selling skills she learned in PSU’s Professional Sales Program and the leadership skills she cultivated in the Marketing Association of Plymouth State (MAPS).
While a student, Lang launched Compass Consulting, a social media student consulting business to promote PSU. To give back, she established scholarships to help support students involved in MAPS, Compass, and other programs.
Distinguished Alumni Service Award—Nancy Grant of Honeoye Falls, N.Y., Class of 1992, was honored for her dedicated service to PSU and its alumni organizations.
Grant has served on the Board of Directors for the Plymouth State Alumni Association for more than a decade, including one term as its Chair. She is a founding member of the Greek Life Advisory Group, helping to reimagine Greek Life as it returns to campus, and was instrumental in bringing tailgating back to campus.
Grant is cherished for her commitment to career development, supporting students and alumni as their mentor. She also shows her support with annual student scholarships.
Alumni Achievement Awards (two recipients)—Joseph LeSerra, Class of 2013, and Dick Ewart, Class of 1973, were recognized for exemplifying PSU’s motto, Ut prosim (That I may serve), through special contributions to Plymouth State Alumni Association activities and their respective professions.
Serra is currently a Senior Detective in the Financial Crime Unit in Leon County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office. He previously served 13 years as deputy sheriff, holding posts as field training officer, detective training officer and agency instructor, earning recognition for his work from public safety and law enforcement organizations.
Serra educates Florida residents about fraud prevention and is active in his community, serving as a flag football and youth baseball coach and leading fundraising efforts for the American Heart Association.
Ewart, of Mariposa, Calif., recently retired from a distinguished career with the National Park Service at Yosemite National Park. As a student at PSU, a biology professor planted the seed to become a naturalist, and Ewart grew to become one of the top naturalists in the United States.
Outstanding Graduate Alumni Award—Linda Martin of Seabrook, N.H., graduate Class of 1999, was honored for positively impacting her profession and community by earning a graduate degree.
After earning a Master of Business Administration degree while working full time, Martin earned a second master’s degree in occupational safety management and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Safety Sciences at Keene State College.
She is also a tenure-track faculty member at Keene State, teaching in the Master of Safety and Occupational Health Applied Sciences programs, and helping her students master the complicated material.
Faculty/Staff Award of Excellence—Brad Allen, MBA, Ph.D. and Greg Dumont, MBA, Ph.D. were both recognized for their commitment to supporting alumni and student connections on campus.
Both Allen and Dumont teach a variety of business and marketing courses and advise the Marketing Association of Plymouth State (MAPS), working to connect current student members with alumni for guidance and mentorship. Nearly all the MAPS students receive job offers before and start jobs following graduation.
Ut Prosim Award—Christopher Foley, class of 2002, was honored posthumously for his exemplary community service and contributions to society. Foley is remembered for his leadership, passion and lasting commitment to service.
After several years of teaching sixth grade reading, math, and social studies, he rose to become Assistant Principal and ultimately Principal of Penacook Elementary School.
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