Tri-State University alumni honored some high achievers and big contributors among the graduates gathered Saturday, Oct. 6 in Whitney Commons for the annual Homecoming Breakfast.

The Alumni Awards are presented annually though election by the TSU Alumni Board of Governors to those who have performed outstanding service to their communities, have a attained a high level of professional achievement, and uphold the ideals of the university.

Outstanding Achievement Awards went to 1983 computer science graduate TSU Trustee Karen Austin and 1956 business administration graduate Philip O’Brien. Austin has held numerous corporate executive positions, serving presently as executive vice president and chief information officer for Sears Holdings Corp. O’Brien is chief executive officer for Canada Endoscope Corp., which he founded in 1990, and has devoted 40 years to the Toronto, Canada, Board of Trade.

William Dubois, a 1966 civil engineering graduate, and TSU Trustee Stephen LaHood, a 1970 business administration alumnus, earned Distinguished Service Awards. Dubois is president and senior project manager for Patriot Engineering and Environmental Inc. in Indianapolis, and has various professional and charitable affiliations. He has supported TSU alumni events and provided professional opportunities for TSU graduates. LaHood most recently served as senior vice president of Solo Cup from 2003-2006, and was named one of the 20 Top Logistic Executives by Logistics Forum Group in 2002. He has served in committee chairmanships as a trustee and has been instrumental in securing federal grants for the university.

Distinguished Service Young Alumnus Awards went to Jason Blume, who earned a mechanical engineering degree in 2004, and Jonathan Cress, a 2002 business administration graduate. Blume is a senior manufacturing supervisor for Zimmer in Warsaw, Ind., and serves TSU on the Cast Metals Advisory Board and the Alumni Board of Governors. Cress is an attorney and partner in Simmons-Brown & Cress PC in Angola, and supports the TSU men’s basketball program and other university initiatives.

Three individuals and two teams were inducted into the TSU Athletic Hall of Fame. Among them were John Wysong, captain and MVP of the state champion TSU basketball team in 1976; Tina Bashelier Balka, captain of the women’s golf team in 1999 and 2000 and recipient of the Shari Coons Award for the university’s most outstanding female scholar-athlete; and Crystal Hardesty Sattler, a four-year member of the women’s basketball team and recipient of the Coons award and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Emil S. Liston Award for the nation’s outstanding junior female basketball player.

Members of the 1977 state and conference winning TSU cross country team, Jeff Lauber, Dexter Lehman, Jeff Gangloff, Doyle Houser, Greg Johnson, Scott Wilson, Mike Schlemmer, Kevin Leinbach and Mike Maycock, were also inducted, as were members of the 1997 NAIA Division II champion women’s golf team, Sarah Brown, Amy Eckhardt, Janell Howland, Dara Jones, Michelle Doremus, and Bashelier Balka.

Alumni marking 25-, 50-, 60, and 70- year reunions received medallions in recognition of their long-term support, and class of 1982 members also received lapel pins. The class of 1957 received recognition for establishing the Class of 1957 Scholarship Endowment for scholarships through a matching challenge issued by alumnus John “Jack” Luther.