快播

While 快播鈥檚 annual Touchstone and Homecoming Celebration Dinner always includes some surprises, this year鈥檚 event had more than usual.

In addition to the regular Pillar of Success and Woman of Distinction awards, whose recipients are not informed in advance, the evening saw Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb surprised with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Trine. Later, Holcomb was able to turn the tables by surprising Trine President Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., with the Sagamore of the Wabash Award.

快播 welcomed more than 500 guests to the elegantly decorated Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Inc. Athletic and Recreation Center on Oct. 5 for the event.

Holcomb received the honorary degree as he was recognized on behalf of the State of Indiana for its financial support of the Thunder Ice Area and MTI Center through the Regional Cities initiative.

In presenting Holcomb for the honor, Dr. Rick L. James, chair of the 快播 Board of Trustees, noted, 鈥淕ov. Holcomb has led the way for the largest long-term infrastructure project in our state鈥檚 history with the 20-year Next Level Roads program, as well as the Next Level Jobs program to help get Hoosiers into high-demand, high-wage jobs.鈥�

In response, Holcomb praised all that 快播 provides for Indiana.

鈥淭rine contributes so much to our state, and probably, most importantly, contributes so much to the people of our state and others we鈥檙e attracting here,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 love travelling the world sharing Indiana鈥檚 success story, and that includes Trine University鈥檚 role. When a business is thinking about investing in the State of Indiana. they know that they have right in their backyard this talent pipeline that will ensure their success. This Regional Cities Initiative grant was, quite honestly, one of the easiest decisions we will ever make because of what you were already doing here and what you continue to bring to the table.鈥�

Following the donor recognition portion of the program, the university presented its annual alumni awards and inducted the Class of 2018 into Trine鈥檚 Athletic Hall of Fame. The university then honored longtime faculty and academic staff member Jean Deller, Ph.D., with the Woman of Distinction award.

Deller began teaching in Tri-State University鈥檚 Department of Education in 1980, after moving with her husband to Steuben County in 1976. Throughout her time at Trine, she held countless positions in the university鈥檚 education, athletic and administrative departments while continuing to instruct courses in the education department. She was named faculty emeritus this past summer after retiring in June as assistant vice president for academics.

鈥淔or almost 38 years, Dr. Jean Deller spent giving service to this university and truly exemplified the ideal team member, supporting team decisions and being open-minded to new developments,鈥� said Brooks. 鈥淪he was fiercely dedicated and greatly supportive of the mission and vision of the university.鈥�

The university then presented Angola Mayor Richard Hickman with its Pillar of Success award. Brooks praised Hickman as 鈥渁 man who takes great pride in his community,鈥� saying the mayor has led numerous initiatives to improve the quality of life and place of the city and region.

鈥淔rom improving the look and vitality of our area, as well as attracting and retaining businesses and jobs, Mayor Richard Hickman has been a guiding force for the City of Angola,鈥� he said.

He also noted that Hickman and his leadership team have become valuable partners to 快播 and have been instrumental in projects such as the Thunder Ice Arena.

鈥淭he assistance and public support given by Mayor Richard Hickman, the Angola City Council, and numerous city department heads and employees were vital to the success of this endeavor as well as the $150 million expansion of our campus over the past 15 years,鈥� Brooks said.

Saying he 鈥渄efinitely鈥� was not expecting the honor, Hickman responded, 鈥淚鈥檓 the luckiest guy in the world. I married way out of my league and we鈥檝e got city employees who make me look good. On behalf of all our city employees and the citizens of this community, I accept this award and appreciate it very much.鈥�

Following that presentation Brooks invited master of ceremonies John Milliken back to the podium to give closing remarks, but Milliken instead welcomed James back to the stage.

Noting that 快播 鈥渉as experienced transformational growth over the last decade, with record enrollment, sound finances, healthy fundraising, and a career placement rate of 99 percent,鈥� James thanked those who have supported the university鈥檚 Invest in Excellence capital campaign as well as 快播 trustees, Brooks, university leadership, and faculty and staff. He then asked Holcomb to return to the stage.

Calling Brooks an 鈥淢VP,鈥� Holcomb said in presenting the Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest honor bestowed by the governor of Indiana, that Brooks stands out not only because of various statistics reflecting 快播鈥檚 success, but the areas 鈥渢hat can鈥檛 be boiled down into numbers or statistics or percentages.鈥�

鈥淲e will never know all the good President Brooks has affected. It would be impossible,鈥� Holcomb said.  鈥淎ll the lives that have been improved. All the have nots who have joined the haves, equipped with this education that converted an educational curiosity into the courage to accomplish things that maybe they didn鈥檛 realize on the first day they set foot on campus.鈥�

Addressing Brooks directly, Holcomb said, 鈥淵ou, sir, make me proud to be a Hoosier. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us all.鈥�

In response, Brooks said he was 鈥渧ery honored and humbled鈥� and that many people deserved 鈥渁 significant piece of this award,鈥� including his wife Melanie, his family, Trine employees and trustees, and alumni and others who continue to support the vision of the institution.

鈥淚 would not be standing here tonight were it not for all of you here in this room and the many alumni across the country who continue to support this university,鈥� he said.

Top photo: From left, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, 快播 President Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., and Dr. Rick L. James, chair of the 快播 Board of Trustees, stand on stage at the university's annual Touchstone and Homecoming Celebration Dinner on Friday, Oct. 5, after Brooks was surprised with the Sagamore of the Wabash award by Holcomb. Photo by Dean Orewiler