News Releases

Alma College Recognizes Alumni Achievements

Front row from left, Dr. Richard '59 and Joanne Stocker '60 Heuschele, winners of the George Hebert Lifetime Service Award, and Amy Falvey Carl '82, winner of the Smith Distinguished Service Award. Back row, President Saundra J. Tracy and Louis Ferrand '64, winner of the Alma College Distinguished Alumni Award.
Alma College recognized four alumni Oct. 1 during Homecoming weekend for contributions to their communities and professions and to the College.

Louis Ferrand '64 of Alexandria, Va., received the Alma College Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor presented to alumni. The award recognizes alumni who have brought distinction to the College through their professions, have set strong examples for others and have served their communities.

A native of Rockford, Ferrand in 1988 became Director of the Office of General Legal Services and General Counsel for the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States [OAS]. He provides advisory services to OAS officials, serves as principal legal advisor in negotiations with Central and South American governments, works with commercial entities, and advises on labor relations matters, corporate contracts and equal opportunity employment.

After graduating from Alma, he started law school at the University of Michigan, left the UofM to serve in the Peace Corps under a Lyle Fellowship he received from Alma and returned to Michigan after two years to finish his Juris Doctorate degree.

Prior to beginning his career as a lawyer, Ferrand was co-founder and president of the Cornerstone Project in Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, NY. The program presented college students the opportunity to live and work in the impoverished neighborhood during the summer. He then became Director of Manpower Programs in Grand Rapids, an inner-city program designed for job training and recruitment that placed more than 1,000 people per year.

Throughout most of the 1970's and 80's he was a trial attorney for the U.S. Justice Department in the Employment Section of the Civil Rights Division. He successfully tried cases dealing with discrimination in employment on the basis of race. In 1976, he was recruited by the Solicitor General's Office at the Labor Department as its Counsel for Civil Rights.

Dr. Richard '59 and JoAnne Stocker '60 Heuschele of Saginaw received the George Hebert Lifetime Service Award. The Heuscheles met during a ballroom dancing class at Alma College and have been ardent supporters of the College since graduation. They have served on advisory committees and assisted with numerous fund raising campaigns in addition to donating time and resources. Dr. Heuschele has been a member of the Alma College Board of Trustees since 2000.

Dr. Heuschele, a Saginaw radiologist for 38 years, retired as one of the most heralded physicians in Michigan. He received his medical degree from the University of Michigan and completed his residency at the UofM hospital. JoAnne was a Saginaw schoolteacher and continued to volunteer in the schools long after their three children graduated.

Since 1961, the Alma College Alumni Association has presented the Hebert Award to alumni for unusual loyalty and service to the College and the association. The award was named in memory of the 1920 alumnus whose love of Alma College and his work on behalf of the institution was an inspiration to all alumni.

Amy Falvey Carl '82 of Marcellus, received the Smith Distinguished Service Award, a new award this year presented to an alumnus who has given a great deal of time in service to the College.

Carl's service began while still in college serving three years on the Orientation Committee, four years with the Student-Alumni Association, and three years as an Admissions volunteer. She has continued her strong support of the College with membership on the Alumni Board for six years serving as president from 2000-2002. She was a part of the alumni team that established the College's Smith Alumni House in 1999. Carl helps with alumni networking events, assists in the recruitment of students and helps organize tailgates at football games.

A graduate of Alma with a business administration degree, Carl is a management consultant for Michael J. Carl & Associates, which includes a law firm and two dentist offices. She is a member of her local theater board and active in local summer festivals.

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For five consecutive years, the Corporation for National and Community Service has named Alma College to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for engaging students, faculty and staff in meaningful service. More than 85 percent of Alma's 2011 graduating class participated in academic service learning during their time at Alma College.

 

Leadership Profile

Kailey Vlug

Kailey Vlug
Graduation: 2015
Major: Business Administration

When she started playing soccer as a child, Kailey Vlug already had her eye on the prize: to play the sport she loved on the collegiate level. Now, she’s playing on the Alma College women’s soccer team, on which she is considered a leader.

“Coming into a whole new team after being with my same high school team for years was challenging as a freshman, but I did my best and worked hard,” she says. “I’ve learned that I can lead through example. My coach, Jeff Hosler, trusts me and gives me leadership responsibilities, so I’ve risen to meet his expectations.”