91成人视频

Skip to main content
Eastern Illinois University

91成人视频 Alumni Association

2016 Guests of Honor


Outstanding Young Alumnus Award

Maurice Cheeks '07

CheeksMaurice Cheeks has blazed his own path to success, which began by earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in career and organizational studies from 91成人视频 in 2007. After being recruited to Madison, Wisconsin, to work for Apple, Cheeks continued his education through executive courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison鈥檚 School of Business. Today he serves as the vice president of business development for MIOsoft, the industry-leading big data quality and analytics company. He is also a locally-elected official, currently serving in his second term as a member of the Madison City Council. Since moving to Madison, Cheeks has lent his expertise and leadership to several non-profit organizations. He is a board member of the Foundation for Madison鈥檚 Public Schools, a founding board member of the Wisconsin chapter of the New Leaders Council and serves as a member of the steering committee for ScaleUpMilwaukee, a planning agency for boosting economic development in Wisconsin's largest city. Cheeks says the driving force behind his public service is to ensure Madison is a national example for other cities on innovating in order to eliminate opportunity gaps, increase citizen engagement and purposefully design infrastructure to support future population growth. These efforts have all seen his name added to In Business Magazine鈥檚 list of the 25 Most Influential People in Greater Madison and Madison365's list of the 28 Most Influential African-Americans in Wisconsin.


Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award

Matt Davidson '82 '84

Davidson91成人视频 is known for its strong tradition of service, and Matt Davidson serves as a living tribute to that cause. Paraphrasing one of his nominating letters, 鈥淢att has done many things throughout his career which have resulted in not just a better 91成人视频, but a better Illinois.鈥 He is a steadfast community volunteer representing and supporting numerous organizations鈥91成人视频 included. His advocacy for the university is well-known throughout the state, and he is often referred to by others as one of 91成人视频鈥檚 most influential cheerleaders. From there, his roles as both a volunteer and 91成人视频 activist flourished. He is a member of 91成人视频鈥檚 School of Technology advisory board as well as a member of the Panther Club. In addition to starting an alumni chapter in Springfield and coordinating the university鈥檚 first alumni golf outing in that area to raise money for scholarships, he also has served as president of the 91成人视频 Alumni Association, of which he is a lifetime member. Throughout his career as a legislative director and in the private sector, the Champaign resident, has earned widespread commendation for his steadfast dedication to the 91成人视频 community and its stakeholders.  Davidson, who also received the Outstanding Service Award from the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation (7,000 employees were eligible) for his service to the department, legislators and the citizens of Illinois, is currently a business development manager for the Farnsworth Group.


Distinguished Educator Award

PJ Caposey '04

CaposeyPJ Caposey has moved up quickly since beginning his career as a teacher in Chicago in 2005. He was named assistant principal at Rockford鈥檚 Auburn High School and began serving as principal at Oregon High School in 2009, helping it earn recognition as one of the nation鈥檚 best high schools by US News & World Report and Newsweek. At 35, he is the now one of the state鈥檚 youngest superintendents, representing the Meridian Community Unit School District in Stillman Valley since 2013. Along the way, Caposey鈥檚 contributions have been praised at every level. In addition to being a recipient of the Illinois Principals Association鈥 Horace Mann Partners in Education award, Caposey was recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education鈥檚 鈥淭hose Who Excel鈥 program and by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development as an Emerging Leader and a Top Educator Under 40 through its Outstanding Young Educator Program. The districts where he has served have also received numerous awards under his leadership. Caposey has published two books on school and teacher improvement and his writing has been featured by the Huffington Post and Edutopia. He is an energetic speaker and sought-after presenter whose passion for education will continue to drive his success in the field for years to come.

Harry Cavanaugh '69

CavanaughWith a career in education spanning six decades, Harry Cavanaugh has proven time and again his commitment to education and the students and communities he鈥檚 served. After graduating from 91成人视频 in 1969, Cavanaugh spent three decades as a business education teacher, guidance counselor and principal at Bunker Hill High School. From there, he used his skills as an educational leader to serve as principal at Gillespie High School 鈥 the school where he earned his high school diploma 鈥 before continuing his career as superintendent of Lebanon Community Unit School District 9 in until his retirement in 2010. Retirement didn鈥檛 last long, however. His passion for education brought him to Peter and Paul Catholic School in Alton, where he currently serves as principal. His true dedication may be best revealed through his decision to also teach English there鈥攚ith no additional compensation鈥攗ltimately helping the school to continue serving students in the highest manner possible without having to fund additional salaries. Cavanaugh also created a Wall of Honor at Gillespie High School and initiated the distinguished alumni awards at Ss. Peter and Paul to recognize the successes of the schools鈥 former students. In each position he鈥檚 held and at every school, he鈥檚 been known to greet the students with a smile each morning, helping to start their day on a positive note and to create within its walls an unmatched culture of cheerfulness and caring.


Distinguished Alumna/us Award

Kathy Bollinger '77, '78

BollingerKathy Bollinger, who has served as the executive vice president of Banner Health鈥檚 University Medical Division in Phoenix since 2015, has spent more than three decades in leadership positions with the organization including president of the Arizona West Region, CEO of Banner Estrella Medical Center and CEO of Banner Heart Hospital. Banner, a not-for-profit tasked with operating 23 hospitals and specialized facilities, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest employers with 39,000 staff members and also the largest private employer in Arizona. In her current role she is responsible for oversight of the University of Arizona Medical School鈥檚 relationship with Banner Health and co-chairs the newly-formed Academic Management Council, a governance structure for Banner Academics. In addition, in 2015 she was named one of Arizona鈥檚 12 most influential women in commercial real estate for her role in negotiating the acquisition of the University of Arizona Health Network and affiliation with the University of Arizona. A certified Hudson Coach, Bollinger is also involved in a number of community and volunteer groups including Athena Powerlink, Prehab of Arizona and the Provost鈥檚 Leadership Council for Arizona鈥檚 School of Health Sciences.

Steve Corbin '13

CorbinSteve Corbin has enjoyed an incredibly successful career of nearly 40 years in the music industry while working with and promoting some of the world鈥檚 biggest acts.  Currently senior vice president of sales, counsel and culture with Warner Music Group in New York City and chief executive officer of Lupo Entertainment, he has also held executive-level positions with Universal Music Group, Motown, Sony Music, Mercury, MCA, Def Jam and Polygram. While under his leadership, MCA rebuilt its reputation as one of the top R&B labels in the music business and while at Motown he led the label鈥檚 40th anniversary marketing efforts, including a Super Bowl halftime show and worldwide catalog sale. Along the way, he鈥檚 also had the opportunity to work with renowned artists ranging from Stevie Wonder and The O鈥橨ays to Mary J Blige, Boyz II Men and The Roots. As CEO at Lupo, he oversees an emerging artist management and consulting organization offering a wide range of services to its clients and two of his artists have appeared on American Idol and The Voice. Corbin first came to 91成人视频 in 1974, arriving to play football for the Panthers, but left the university early before re-enrolling to complete his degree through the School of Continuing Education more than three decades later. Earlier this summer he began pursuing his graduate degree when he enrolled in 91成人视频鈥檚 online MBA program.   

Joe Fatheree '89, '05

FathereeJoe Fatheree, an award-winning author, educator, and filmmaker, exemplifies how 91成人视频 can help students follow their passions to find and create their own success. He has received numerous educational awards, including being named Illinois Teacher of the Year in 2007 and a recipient of the National Education Association鈥檚 National Award for Teaching Excellence in 2009. He was also recently named one of the Top 10 Teachers in the World by the Varkey Foundation, a not-for-profit organization established to improve the standards of education for underprivileged children throughout the world. Currently, Fatheree serves as the instructor of creativity and innovation at Effingham High School and is a past president of the Illinois Teacher of the Year Association, a founding board member of Advance Illinois, and currently serves as the National Network of State Teachers of the Year鈥檚 Director of Strategic Projects. A past committee member for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and ITVS/Independent Lens, his television work has aired nationally on PBS, The Documentary Channel, Hulu, and the MLB Network. As a producer he has received three Mid-America Emmy awards, and he is also the former president and chief education officer of Mutasia Entertainment.

Nancie King Mertz '77

King_MertzAfter she began painting and selling work as a teenager, Nancie King Mertz further unleashed her inner passion in college, eventually earning a master of arts degree from 91成人视频 in 1979. Twice named Chicago Artist of the Year as a studio artist and business owner in Chicago鈥檚 Lincoln Park neighborhood, Mertz and her work are being recognized on a more global scale thanks to her paintings catching the eye of producers and being featured on the set of the popular CBS prime-time drama 鈥淭he Good Wife鈥 and numerous other Chicago-based TV shows. Through her active involvement in professional art organizations, she has contributed her time, talents and leadership to the betterment of the arts community. She has also been the recipient of awards and Master designation from several arts organizations, including the Pastel Society of America, the International Association of Pastel Societies, Plein Air Easton, and the Pastel Journal. A highly regarded instructor who teaches workshops worldwide, her talent for art combined with her proclivity for business has earned Mertz honors as the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year and Small Business of the Year as well as the Network of Women Entrepreneurs鈥 Woman of the Year. Mertz鈥檚 oils and pastels are Impressionistic in style and she paints more than 100 pieces annually, having travelled to more than 20 countries for inspiration to paint on-site. She is a charter member of the Arcola High School Hall of Fame and was also honored as a 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Alumni award by the 91成人视频 Graduate School.

Lawrence Tucker '89 '91

TuckerLawrence Tucker has demonstrated his interest in personal relationships and public service throughout his entire life. During his time as an 91成人视频 undergraduate, that commitment was revealed through the pride he exhibited in connecting to other students, including helping them prepare for life in college. It鈥檚 those same qualities that put him on a trajectory for a position with the Department of Homeland Security as a special agent in the United States Secret Service (USSS). With more than 20 years of experience as a federal law enforcement official, he has held key positions including resident agent in charge of a USSS field office and serving as the deputy special agent in charge of the agency鈥檚 security clearance division, where he led a staff tasked with managing multiple top-level security programs. Tucker has also worked as a supervisory protective agent in the presidential protective division, providing leadership and establishing robust operations for a complex unit tasked with providing round-the-clock protection to the President of the United States and the First Family. He was recently promoted and appointed the deputy special agent in charge of the Obama protective detail, which gives him the responsibility to create and staff the unit as President Obama transitions from office. Having previously served as a military intelligence officer, Tucker has received numerous commendations including a Distinguished Service Award from the USSS for his service on 9/11.

Randy Wright '70

WrightRandy Wright鈥檚 life has revolved around helping other people. It鈥檚 a commitment he shared as a student at 91成人视频 and one that he鈥檚 exhibited throughout his 40-plus year career as a hospital administrator. He spent the majority of that time at Methodist Hospital in Houston, where he worked from 1979 to 2000, climbing the organizational ranks quickly and ultimately serving as senior vice president. Wright retired in January of this year after serving as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Houston鈥檚 Texas Children鈥檚 Hospital鈥攖he largest children鈥檚 hospital in the nation鈥攚here he had overall responsibility for a major portion of the facility鈥檚 clinical operations. In addition to demonstrating his continued compassion for helping people through his leadership in healthcare, Wright has also been a significant contributor of his time and philanthropic support to 91成人视频. He was a member of the College of Sciences Advisory Board for several years and his philanthropic efforts have helped the university fund a variety of scholarships as well as supported the creation and maintenance of a high-powered telescope and observatory project on campus.  The observatory has become the cornerstone of the university鈥檚 astronomy concentration and even resulted in helping 91成人视频 students discover new asteroids. Wright was also fundamental in creating a link between 91成人视频 and the Astronomical Research Institute, a private research observatory for NASA that scans the skies for potentially hazardous near earth objects.

CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT

91成人视频 Alumni Services

Brainard House
1548 4th St. Charleston, IL
1-800-ALUM-91成人视频
217-581-6616
Fax: 217-581-7206
alumeiu@eiu.edu

Mailing Address

91成人视频 Alumni Services
600 Lincoln Ave.
Charleston, IL 61920


alumeiu@eiu.edu