Alumni Awards Ceremony honors seven for outstanding service to AC community
Posted Wednesday, October 09, 2024
Author: Mickey Alvarado
Seven members of the Adrian College (AC) community were honored during an Alumni Awards Ceremony on AC’s campus in the Adrian Tobias Center on Saturday, Sept. 28, during Homecoming weekend.
Each of the awards recipients were also honored and introduced later that afternoon during the college’s homecoming football game where the Bulldogs defeated Olivet 24-14.
The seven alumni award recipients, Charley Decker, ’09, (Young Alumni Achievement Award), Chris Howard, ’02, (Alumni Humanitarian Award), Tina Hubbard, ’89, (Distinguished Alumni Award), Michael Neal, ’12, (Outstanding Alumni Employee Award), Londa Pickles (Honorary Alumni Award), Chris Stiver (AC Stewardship Award) and Dr. Michele White, ’90 (Alumni Service Award), were lauded by the alumni board as some of the best alumni and non-alumni representatives imaginable, with distinguished careers and charismatic personalities.
“One role of the volunteer alumni board is to help engage alumni in the life of the college and to offer recognition and gratitude for their accomplishments,” said Desmond Upshaw, ’08, the Vice President of the Alumni Association Board of Directors before introductions. “And also, for their service and commitment to their alma mater, fellow alumni and their greater communities.”
The award winners are listed in the order of their introduction during the ceremony.
- The Distinguished Alumni Award is for having a distinguished career, as well as involvement in assisting communities.
Starting out as Director of Sales and Marketing, Hubbard quickly moved into leadership roles including Vice President of Marketing and Product Management and Chief Operating Officer before ultimately becoming CEO of HDA Truck Pride.
In addition to her professional achievements, Hubbard gives back to the community and industry by serving on numerous boards including Auto Care, AWDA, HDDA, CVSN, HDAW, Women in Auto Care, AAIA, and Adrian College.
- The Young Alumni Award is for experiencing extraordinary professional or personal success within 20 years after graduation.
After graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Religion, Decker has been a member of the Chattanooga Police Department for the past 13 years and earned the rank of sergeant two years ago. He also serves as a staff sergeant and military police officer with the Tennessee Army National Guard.
- The Alumni Service Award is for volunteering time, talent and service to support students and promote the college.
White was recognized for dedicating her life to empowering individuals and families as a seasoned counselor, author, and community leader.
She shares her insights on faith-based counseling and family dynamics in her books, including “Against the Grain: Raising Christ-Focused Children from A to Z” and “P.R.A.Y. before you eat: Pursue Rightly And Yield in God’s Word.”
She also founded the A5 Scholarship Charity, which helps students pursue higher education and serves on numerous boards, including the Executive Board of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan and the Washtenaw Christian Academy School Board.
- The Alumni Humanitarian Award recognizes alumni who demonstrate an altruistic lifestyle that reflects Adrian’s founding spirit of service to others.
For the past 11 years, Howard has been working for the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) as the Truancy Prevention, School Safety, and Homeless Education Coordinator. He has been instrumental in supporting students facing homelessness, ensuring they have access to educational opportunities.
Howard actively participates in the Kiwanis Club of Adrian and serves on the Executive Committee of the Lenawee County Continuum of Care.
He has been recognized with several awards for his work, including the 2022 Lenawee ISD Community Service Award, the LISD Innovations in Partnerships Award, and the LISD Non-Teaching Excellence Award.
- The Honorary Alumni Award honors non-alumni who have shown great affection for AC over time or have made significant contributions to special projects and the campus community.
With over four decades of experience in the insurance industry, Pickles was honored for establishing herself as a respected professional and business leader. She began her career at Gurdjian Insurance Group, Inc. in 1977, and in 2019, she took ownership of the company, where she now serves as president.
She is Board Chair for Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County and President of the Athena Council and is also a board member of Lenawee Cares and a trustee of Adrian College.
Pickles’ passion for youth development and education is evident in her involvement with the Lenawee 4-H Council and District 12 Council for MSU Extension.
- The AC Stewardship Award was established to include non-alumni and current or former employees who have demonstrated exemplary service to the college.
Stiver began his career at AC in 1996 as a Custodial Delivery worker. For 28 years, he has steadily risen through the ranks and became AC’s Director of Facilities and Grounds 10 years ago.
- The Outstanding Alumni Employee Award is given to an alumni employee who has been with AC for at least five years, displays strong pride, has a professional attitude and a commitment to the institution and its students.
Neal began his career at AC in 2013 as a Multimedia Designer in the Marketing Office. The next year, he founded ACTV, a student-run television station that provides hands-on experience in media production.
Neal was promoted to the Multimedia Coordinator in 2017, the same year he transitioned to a full-time faculty role in the Department of Communication Arts.
Jennifer Carlson, AC Director of Alumni Relations, concluded the ceremony by sharing her sincere congratulations to the recipients.
“It has been my pleasure to get acquainted with you through the award process,” she said. “And just a note, your names are now etched in stone in the brick walkway at the Thomas Pavilion in Docking Stadium.”
