Wright State University honors outstanding alumni

Nine Wright State University graduates will be recognized Friday, May 20, at the Alumni Achievement Awards Ceremony.

Award recipients are considered the best and the brightest of Wright State’s more than 90,000 alumni. Each recipient will be recognized as outstanding alumni for their extraordinary accomplishments and contributions to their professions, communities and their alma mater.

The recipients of the 2011 Alumni Achievement Awards are:

Stacey M. Lawson

African American Alumni Society Award of Excellence Recipient

Stacey Lawson graduated from Wright State University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Business degree from the Raj Soin College of Business, and in 1996 with a Master of Science from the College of Education and Human Services.

Since 1998, she has spent more than a decade of her career with Premier, and is currently the director of human resources for Good Samaritan Hospital. In this role, Lawson has led the organization through significant change initiatives during one of the most tumultuous times in our economy, while increasing employee engagement.

She is a member of the American Leadership Council for Diversity in Health Care Management, where she designed curriculum for the certification for diversity practitioners and is currently a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Lindsay Ackley

American Humanics Alumni Society Award of Excellence Recipient

Lindsay Ackley is a proud graduate of Wright State University, having earned a Bachelor of Science in business management in 2004 from the Raj Soin College of Business, an American Humanics Nonprofit Management Certificate in 2004, and a Master of Public Administration in 2006 from the College of Liberal Arts.

Ackley is the associate executive director of Clothes That Work. She considers herself blessed to work in a profession that strengthens individuals and builds our community. In her current position at Clothes That Work, she is responsible for fund development and partner relationships, which support the empowerment of low-income job seekers.

This past quarter, Ackley also used her passion for the nonprofit sector and leadership development as an adjunct instructor for the Student Philanthropy project at Wright State. She used her experiences to educate students about philanthropy and empower them to make a difference in their community.

Peter Samborsky II

Athletics Alumni Award of Excellence

Pete Samborsky earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from the Raj Soin College of Business in 1988 at Wright State University, majoring in accountancy and finance. He competed in golf for the Raiders from 1993 to 1997, and was named as the new head golf coach at Wright State in September 2009.

Samborsky was a key component as Wright State won the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) Championship in both 1996 and 1997, after finishing second in 1995. He claimed medalist honors as a senior in 1997 after compiling a three-round score of 212.

Since competing at Wright State, he has put together a solid amateur career. Samborsky has won the prestigious Miami Valley Metropolitan Championship, a 72-hole stroke play event, in 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and was second in 2003. He has had six top 20 finishes in the Ohio Amateur in this decade, and has qualified for the five USGA’s championships.

Javed Abidi

International Alumni Award of Excellence

Javed Abidi graduated from Wright State University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communications from the College of Liberal Arts. He is the Honorary Director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP).  Abidi resides in New Delhi, India.

As an impassioned advocate for India’s disabled citizens, he has given voice to an “invisible minority,” one that has been denied to them by both political and social sectors for decades. It is a subject that he understands firsthand, having been confined to a wheelchair since he was 15 years old.

Abidi has since established the National Center for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, which has been instrumental in the creation of a countrywide database to unite employers with disabled workers. He continues his efforts to inspire those with mental or physical disabilities to act as their own advocates in their struggle to gain the rights that most citizens take for granted.

Nannette Whaley

Recent Graduate Award Recipient

Nan Whaley received her Master of Public Administration in 2009 from the College of Liberal Arts at Wright State University.

Her career is distinguished by her commitment to public service, civic involvement and interest in local government. Whaley has been a city commissioner with the city of Dayton since 2005, and was the youngest woman ever chosen for a commission seat. Prior to serving as a commissioner, Whaley served on the Montgomery County Board of Elections and as a deputy to Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith.

Whaley is a member of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church and a graduate of Leadership Miami Valley. She is a founding member of Ohio’s Great Corridor, a regional effort committed to embracing the rivers. She currently serves on the Montgomery County Planning Commission, the Iddings Foundation subcommittee for Positive School Climate in Dayton Public Schools, and the Dayton Access Television Board of Trustees.

Debra Downing

Social Work Alumni Society Award of Excellence Recipient

Deb Downing graduated from Wright State University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Liberal Arts.

She joined the Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services in October of 1991, and has been assistant director, Social Services & Income Support since May 2008.

Downing has been an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Social Work at Wright State since September 2003.

Downing received the Wright State University Social Work Alumna of the Year Award in 2009, completed Leadership Dayton in 2008 and completed the Dayton Dialogue on Race Relations in 2005. She has received three awards from Montgomery County Children Services: Manager of the Year in 2003, Employee of the Month in 2003, and the Director’s Service Award in 2002.

Patricia A. Koogler

Volunteer Service Award Recipient

Pat Koogler graduated from Wright State University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Education in 1980 from the College of Education and Human Services. After her graduation in 1975, she was hired by Xenia Community Schools.

During her career in Xenia, Koogler served on many district committees and textbook adoption boards. She was a faculty advisory representative to the superintendant, as well as a unit leader for the upper grades. She also was her staff’s representative to the Xenia Education Association for 20-plus years, holding the office of secretary, as well as participating on several contract negotiations teams.

The majority of her 30-year career was spent at McKinley Elementary teaching fifth and sixth graders. It was there she, with the help of former Wright State Men’s Basketball Coach Jim Brown, developed the Raider Math program in which her students used the team information to learn statistics. Many times through the years, the players visited the students.

William T. Koogler (Tom)

Volunteer Service Award Recipient

Tom Koogler graduated from Wright State University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

He retired in 2009 from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base after 37 years of service.  His most recent position at Wright-Patterson was executive director of the Air Force Security Assistance Center. He was responsible for supporting and advising the commander in the overall operation and administration of the Center by providing guidance, coordination and work direction.

Koogler received numerous awards throughout the years including:  the Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1995 and 2000, the AFMC DAU Award from the Propulsion Product Group in 1998, a Stewart Award Finalist in 1995, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award-F-15 System Program Office in 1997, and the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award-Propulsion Development System Office in 1998.

Koogler became a board member of the Wright State University Alumni Association in 2001, served as vice president from 2004 through 2006, and president from 2007 through 2009. He is currently chair of the Alumni Association’s Board Affairs Committee.

Gary E. McCullough

Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award Recipient

Gary McCullough graduated from Wright State University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Business degree from the Raj Soin College of Business. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University’s J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

McCullough was the recipient of Wright State University’s Raj Soin College of Business Outstanding Alumni Award in 2006, and was the Kellogg School’s Black Management Association’s 2011 Alumni of the year.

McCullough is president and chief executive officer and member of the Board of Directors of Career Education Corporation (CEC). Career Education Corporation is a $2.0 billion, publicly traded (NASDAQ:CECO) educational services company committed to quality, career-focused learning. The company has approximately 14,000 employees and operates colleges, schools and universities that offer doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees at more than 90 campuses in the United States and abroad.