Where are they now? Alumni Awards edition

Distinguished Alumni Award

The CFAES Distinguished Alumni Award gives public recognition to those who have brought distinction to themselves and the college at large through their participation, commitment, and leadership. We have been honoring individuals with this award since 1971, and in that time we have honored 358 individuals. Of those honored over the years, 86% are male, and 14% are female. This compares to the current alumni population that includes 44,554 individuals, with 67% male and 33% female. Honorees of this award represent each of the college's academic units, with 32% coming from the Department of Animal Sciences, 17% from the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership, and 16% from the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. We checked in with them to see what they have accomplished since earning their award and what it meant to them. Hear from a few of our honorees below. 

Dennis Swartz, ’61 BS Agricultural Education, ’69 MS Agricultural Education

CFAES Distinguished Alumni Award, 2005 

Dennis SwartzQ: Describe what receiving a CFAES Alumni Award meant to you.  

A: Since I had completed over 43 years in agriculture and administrative education, it was a great culmination to the many students and staff I had worked with and the success they have had in life. I was nominated and supported for the award by these students and staff.

Q: Do you have other thoughts or comments about your experience with CFAES Alumni Awards and your alumni experience? 

A: It is a thrill to be considered for the award and to share the honor with so many of my peers and those who have mentored me. I have several former students as OSU graduates, and one currently teaching in the OSU agronomy department. I remain an active member of the OSU Marion alumni association.

Gary Bennett, ’75 MS Animal Science, ’77 PhD Animal Science 

CFAES Distinguished Alumni Award, 2011

Gary BennettQ: Describe what receiving a CFAES Alumni Award meant to you.  

A: It was an honor to be selected for recognition from among many deserving alumni of a great college and university. It was an affirmation of the education I received from some great professors and their influence on my life and career.

Q: What has been your greatest achievement and/or milestone since winning your alumni award? 

A: Research Fellow Award, American Society of Animal Science, 2020; Pioneer Award, Beef Improvement Federation; acting director, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, 2017–2018.

Ronald Overmyer, ’66 BS Agricultural Education, ’72 MS Agricultural Education 

CFAES Distinguished Alumni Award, 2017

Ronald OvermyerQ: Describe what receiving a CFAES Alumni Award meant to you. 

A: It is very humbling to be recognized by the college that was the base for my success. The education that I received and the contacts that I made as part of my experience as a CFAES student provided me the tools for a successful life of learning and contribution. The impact of the college continued in my career as an OSU Extension agent for 37 years. It expanded my horizons locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally. 

Q: What has been your greatest achievement and/or milestone since winning your alumni award? 

A: I continue to utilize my skills and talents in numerous community and business organizations, providing leadership in helping the organizations grow and move forward.

Q: Do you have other thoughts or comments about your experience with CFAES Alumni Awards and your alumni experience? 

A: It made me think about other alumni who should be considered for the award. I hope to nominate people in the future for consideration for the award.

W. Alan Wentz, ’69 BS Natural Resources 

CFAES Alumni Award, 1999

W. Alan WentzQ: Describe what receiving a CFAES Alumni Award meant to you.  

A: Recognition by The Ohio State Univerdity and the college was one of the most significant moments in my career. It was later followed by a similar recognition from Oregon State University, and lifelong accomplishment awards, such as the Aldo Leopold Memorial Award for Wildlife Conservation—the highest award in my profession—in 2019.

Q: What has been your greatest achievement and/or milestone since winning your alumni award? 

A: The Aldo Leopold Memorial Award for Wildlife Conservation in 2019. Also my retirement in 2010 from the position of chief conservation officer of Ducks Unlimited after 20 years there.

David Hawkins, ’63 BS Animal Science, ’65 MS Animal Science 

CFAES Distinguished Alumni Award, 2011

David HawkinsQ: Describe what receiving a CFAES Alumni Award meant to you.

A: It was a high honor to be nominated by the OSU Animal Sciences Department. It validated the excellent mentoring that I received while I was a student at OSU, which enabled me to develop my professional career at Michigan State University so that I might be eligible to be considered for this award.

Q: What has been your greatest achievement and/or milestone since winning your alumni award? 

A: In 2013, I was inducted into the Saddle and Sirloin Portrait Gallery in Louisville, Kentucky. This gallery, which was established in 1903, is considered to be the Livestock Industry Hall of Fame and is one of the highest honors awarded in the U.S. livestock industry. There have been 374 inductees in the 117-year history, Additional information can be found at http://www.saddleandsirloinportraitfoundation.org/blog or http://www.livestockexpo.org/saddleandsirloin.html.

Alan Brugler, ’76 BS Agricultural Education, ’76 MS Agricultural Education 

CFAES Distinguished Alumni Award, 2011

Alan BruglerQ: Describe what receiving a CFAES Alumni Award meant to you.

A: It was a welcome recognition of some of the innovations I had initiated or fostered over the first 30 years of my career. Felt like I was in some pretty distinguished company!

Q: What has been your greatest achievement and/or milestone since winning your alumni award? 

A: I've been invited to be a speaker at several major conventions and ag events.

Q: Do you have other thoughts or comments about your experience with CFAES Alumni Awards and your alumni experience? 

A: It is a great way to remind us all that college can prepare you for a successful career, and also reminds us that career paths can vary greatly from what we thought they would be in college! It also reminds folks in agriculture that some of those high achievers they know are Buckeyes!

Phillip Minerich, ’76 BS Food Technology Agriculture 

CFAES Distinguished Alumni Award, 2019

Phillip MinerichQ: Describe what receiving a CFAES Alumni Award meant to you.

A: This was quite the surprise, and honor, to be recognized by the university as a distinguished alumni. My wife and I have cheered for the Buckeyes for nearly 50 years and are both thankful for how our degrees prepared us for a life of service.

Q: What has been your greatest achievement and/or milestone since winning your alumni award? 

A: We love to travel the world (have canceled several trips due to COVID-19) and proudly support the Buckeyes everywhere we go. What better way to show our gratitude than to speak highly of the university and support all Buckeyes, academically, musically, and athletically.

Carroll Vance, ’71 PhD Plant Pathology 

CFAES Distinguished Alumni Award, 1993

Carroll VanceQ: Describe what receiving a CFAES Alumni Award meant to you.

A: Receiving the award was an acknowledgement that my education at OSU not only gave me the foundation for critical thinking but extended the tools gained at OSU through mentoring individuals across the world.

Q: What has been your greatest achievement and/or milestone since winning your alumni award? 

A: My greatest achievement(s) has been mentoring a great number of graduate students and postdoctoral associates at the University of Minnesota. The achievements made by those individuals led to me being elected to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Hall of Fame in 2019.

Robert Benson, ’56 BS Agricultural Education

CFAES Distinguished Alumni Award, 2002

Robert BensonQ: Describe what receiving a CFAES Alumni Award meant to you. 

A: I was honored to have been selected. Never dreamed of even being considered! My aspirations were always to do the best you can at everything you do. The education I received at OSU helped me do my best! The recognition by CFAES was very gratifying. 

Q: What has been your greatest achievement and/or milestone since winning your alumni award? 

A: Lions Clubs International Life Membership, 2014; McClure Silver Ram Award by the American Sheep Industry Association for dedicated volunteer commitment and service to the sheep industry, 2017.

David Pullins, ’72 BS Agricultural Education 

CFAES Distinguished Alumni Award, 2008

Q: Describe what receiving a CFAES Alumni Award meant to you.

A: The award was acknowledgement by my peers that my efforts to assist and support farmers and others in agriculture were successful and worthwhile.

Q: What has been your greatest achievement and/or milestone since winning your alumni award? 

A: Following a 33-year career with the Ohio Farm Bureau serving farmers, I have continued to build a successful diversified farm operation with my wife, Cathy, and two sons.

Floyd Poruban, ’61 BS Horticulture, ’64 MS Plant Pathology 

CFAES Distinguished Alumni Award, 2019

Q: Describe what receiving a CFAES Alumni Award meant to you. 

A: It certainly wasn’t expected, especially for a blind person. I never expected that type of award. But I was appreciative anyways. I didn’t think I that I would be considered worthy for such an award. I was told that in 150 years of Ohio State, I am the only one that ever received a science degree as a blind person.

Q: What has been your greatest achievement and/or milestone since winning your alumni award? 

A: Keeping my business running. The pandemic slowed down business quite a bit, people would call but were scared to come and see the plants. But after things started to slow down, things are starting to pick up. People are calling from all over.

Nominations for the 2021 Alumni Awards have closed, but you can nominate for the 2022 awards here.