Award Winners: 2003
Awards were presented at the 2003 Reunion Weekend Alumni Banquet on April 26, 2003.Honorary Alumnus Award
R. Marvin OwensResides in Columbia, Missouri with his wife, Ginny Harmon ('40) Owens
Owens has been a member of the Columbia College Board of Trustees since 1975. As chair of the finance committee, he helped the college go from being $3 million in debt in the late 1970's to having $1 million in the bank by 1991. For his financial acumen, the board voted unanimously in 1991 to name the college's new soccer field the R. Marvin Owens Field. Owens recently stepped aside as chair of the finance committee after holding the position since 1976. He has continued to remain an active member of the board, which meets quarterly at the Columbia College campus.
Owens volunteers his time with other boards and organizations in the community such as the First Baptist Church Endowment Fund and Boy Scouts.
Distinguished Alumni Award
(For attaining outstanding regional and national recognition in one's chosen career field.)
Jennifer "Jenna" Dorn '71
Resides in Reston, Virginia with her two sons, Benjamin and Jonathan.
Jenna is the administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, where she leads a 500 employee agency and manages a nearly $7 billion annual budget that support public transit services across the United States. She was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2001. This is her third presidential appointment.
Professional Achievement Award
(For attaining outstanding success in one's chosen career field.)
Cynthia Sumner Holter '82
Resides in St. Louis, Missouri with her husband, Denny, & three children: Maggie, Max and Dawson. Her parents are Fred and Daphne Harwood ('57) Sumner.
Holter is director of development for the Saint Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Mo. She has played an instrumental role in helping the zoo raise several million dollars as well as significantly increase is membership participation and income from special events. Under her leadership, the zoo recently completed a $70 million campaign and prior to that raised $12 million. In 2002 she was honored with the Outstanding Fundraising Executive Award by the AFP. Also she currently serves as chair of the special gifts committee and a member of the steering committee for the Columbia College; Destination Excellence campaign, a $10 million capital campaign.
Dr. Evelyn E. Jorgenson '76
Resides in Moberly, Missouri with her husband, Charles.
Jorgenson has served as president of Moberly Area Community College (MACC) in Moberly, Mo., for the past seven years. She is state representative for the Council of the North Central Two-Year Colleges. Among her many awards, she was named a 1996 distinguished alumna at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Mo., and a 1999 regional winner of the "Women at their Best" award. She received the Saludos Hispano Publisher's Salute to Honored Educators of Distinction Award in 2002, the Who's Who in Executives and Professionals 2001-02, Who's Who in American Education in 1993 and an Outstanding Young Women of America award in 1987 and 1985.
Community Service Award
(For demonstrating outstanding leadership and service to the citizens of one's community.)
Carolyn Gore Moore '58
Resides in Lake Havasu City, Arizona with her husband, Larry.
In the past decade, Moore has volunteered her time to serve her community in a variety of ways. She is the founder of C.H.I.N.-U.P. (Caring for Havasuvians in Need United Project), a nonprofit organization that has raised more than $370,000 and helped more than 5,000 people in need, created Random Acts of Kindness in Havasu, and volunteered in First Step, a program observing the interaction between new babies and parents in the hospital in an effort to identify physical, drug or alcohol abuse. She also has served as a volunteer for Destination Excellence Campaign, a $10 million capital campaign for Columbia College.
Martin Negron '99
Resides in Ceiba, Puerto Rico with his wife, Maria Leticia Rivera, and two children
Jonathan and Jorman.
Negron has exhibited exceptional leadership skills in his community. He developed the Drug Education for Youth summer camp program on Naval Station Roosevelt Roads for more than 800 youth participants and trained more than 234 staff volunteers. The program provides the educational means for personal goal setting, resisting peer pressure and drug use through self-esteem, race relations, human relations and equal opportunity. Additionally, he coordinated the Adopt-a-Grade program between the military and the elementary school, among many other activities that have benefited the community. He attends charity events and volunteers his time, working diligently behind the scenes to improve his community. In 2001,
Negron was named the Navy recipient of the National Image Meritorious Service Award Military Hispanic of the Year for his numerous community service activities.
Columbia College Service Award
(For significant contributions and service to Columbia College)
Robert E. Burnett '01
Resides in Iberia, Missouri
Burnett is president and co-founder of the Columbia College - Fort Leonard Wood Campus Alumni Chapter. He has served as vice president of the student senate at Columbia College-Fort Leonard Wood and helps organize its annual Christmas celebration, in which he plays the role of Santa Claus. He also served 22 years in the military.
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Merri Richards '97
Reside in Dixon, Missouri
The Richards both played an instrumental role in helping establish the Fort Leonard Wood Alumni Chapter and also established the Joshua Richards Honor Scholarship at the Fort Leonard Wood campus to honor the memory of their son who was killed by a drunk driver in 1998. The endowed scholarship provides financial assistance to students at the campus who demonstrate academic ability and commitment to the community.
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