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Local USF Alumni Chapter presents its 2002 Distinguished Alumni Awards
Five community leaders lauded; 15 alumni nominated
(See photo below)

(Sarasota, FL, May 17, 2002) -- The University of South Florida Manatee-Sarasota Alumni Association chapter presented its 2002 Distinguished Alumni Awards to five community leaders last evening during a ceremony attended by about 150 people at the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus.  This is the local Alumni Association chapter's fifth year sponsoring these awards.

The five 2002 Distinguished Alumni Awards went to:

• Davis W. Graham, Community Leadership Award, Administrator/CEO of Manatee Diagnostic Center;

• Michael P. McCoy, Professional Achievement Award, President of Community Bank of Bradenton;

• Byron E. Shinn, President's Award, President of Shinn and Company CPA's;

• Isara K. Tyson, Community Leadership Award, Associate Professor of English at Manatee Community College; and,

• Carl D. Weeks, Professional Achievement Award, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County.

Each recipient received an engraved trophy with a brass bull on top; the bull represents the university's mascot.

The 15 local USF alumni who were nominated for the 2002 awards have made significant contributions to their profession, the community and the university.  Alumni of all USF campuses - Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland and Sarasota/Manatee - who live in Manatee and Sarasota counties were eligible to be nominated.  More than 8,500 USF alumni live and work in the two-county area.

The 10 other nominees were:  Amy Bressler Drake, Vice President of Operations, Longboat Key Club; Lisa J. Hagerman, Sales Representative, Business Resource, Inc.; Thomas W. Hannon, Community Relations Coordinator, Department of Children and Families; Mark J. Harrison, Teacher, Wilkinson Elementary School; John C. Laurie, Chief Operating Officer, Wyman Green and Blalock, Inc.; Alice A. Massing, Registered Nurse, Sarasota Memorial Hospital; Ronald P. Reagan, Owner and President, E.W. Smith Insurance Agency; Mary L. Ruiz, President/CEO, Manatee Glens; John M. Stevely, Marine Extension Agent, Manatee County; and, Andrew P. Truitt, Co-owner, Imprinted Novel Concepts, Inc.

A panel of business and community leaders selected the recipients.  The judges were:  Marianne Barneby, Ward 2 Bradenton City Councilwoman; Alex Chavez, southeast director, Latin Chamber of Commerce; Brian Flynn, CEO, Manatee Memorial Hospital; Carolyn Mason, mayor of Sarasota; Marjorie North, society columnist, Herald-Tribune; Larry Thompson, president, Ringling School of Art and Design; Mac Tully, president and publisher, The Bradenton Herald; and Vida Urbonis, anchor, WWSB-TV Channel 40.

Awards categories were:

Campus Service:  Recognizes one or more individuals who have rendered loyal service to USF Sarasota/Manatee either through the Alumni Association, an affiliated group, or through direct service to the administration.

Community Leadership:  Recognizes one or more individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to community service by donating significant time to charitable activities.

President's Award:  Recognizes an individual who has rendered outstanding service to the university/community, and whose achievements have brought honor and distinction to USF.

Professional Achievement:  Recognizes one or more individuals who have distinguished themselves in their chosen professions while also making a significant contribution to the larger community.

Recipients in 2001 were Fredi S. Brown, Anila Jain, M.D., Dr. Carl A. Luer, Rhonda S. Moraca, Dr. Dan Nolan, Kenneth E. Pearson, Richard D. Smith and Dr. Marlene Woodson-Howard.

Recipients in 2000 were Deb Torine Bryan, Ellen Campbell, Elizabeth Vargas Dowdy, Marjorie Kinnan, Chuck Polis, and Karen Rushing.

Recipients in 1999 were Ted Bogusz, Dr. Ernest D. Estevez, Patricia M. Glass, Dr. Sarah H. Pappas, Robert G. Turner and Rubylinda Zickafoose.

Recipients in 1998 were Charles Baumann, Janice Davis, Dr. Mona Jain, Elizabeth Lindsay, Kenneth Oden and Dr. Michael Swor.

Distinguished Alumni Awards 2002 Planning Committee members were:  Chairwoman Diana Michel; co-chairs Anila Jain, M.D., and Christi Womack Villalobos; Roger T. Frazee, chapter president; Rhonda Moraca; and, Barbara Ramsey.  Alumni chapter board members also include:  Shawn Foster; Judge Douglas Henderson; David Hicks; Ronald Reagan; Lisa Russo; Derek Williams; and, Gene Winter.

The University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee Campus offers 25 degree programs for students to complete at the undergraduate and graduate levels.  Currently serving 2,300 students annually, the campus is located at the Sarasota/Manatee County line on 140 acres, touching the shoreline of Sarasota Bay and adjacent to the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport.  It is part of the University of South Florida, the second largest university in Florida with more than 37,000 students, a Research I institution, and one of the top 20 largest universities in the United States.

# # #

DAA 2002 Recipients:
Back row (l to r):  Mike McCoy, Byron Shinn
Front row (l to r):  Carl Weeks, Isara Tyson, Davis Graham

Media contact:  Ellen Wile (941) 359-4749; e-mail ewile@sar.usf.edu