Four Northern Michigan University alumni will be recognized for their achievements as part of the Homecoming 2008 activities. They are (from left): Heather Albrecht of Chicago, Outstanding Young Alumni Award; Mike Ross of Appleton, Wis., Alumni Achievement Award; and Larry Inman of Traverse City and Duane Vandenbusche of Detroit, Distinguished Alumni Award. Albrecht serves as vice president of the non-profit RuffaloCODY team, the nation’s largest and oldest higher education fundraising consulting/software firm. She also serves as director for Mary Kay Cosmetics and mentors the top 2 percent of the company in the greater Chicago area. Before graduating in 1996, Albrecht was NMU supervisor for telephone campaigns and oversaw the telemarketing program. She was later promoted to associate director of the annual fund and served as co-founder of the NMU Student Alumni Foundation. Ross is director of bands at Appleton West High School. His bands have been invited to perform at the Wisconsin State Music Convention in Madison and have done concert tours in Italy, Germany, France, England and Greece. Ross has held many active positions in different orchestras and symphonies in the Midwest, such as conductor of the Green Bay Youth Symphony. While at NMU, he played football from 1972-74 and played in the NMU marching band in 1975, before graduating in 1976. He holds a bachelor’s degree from NMU and a master’s in music education from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Inman is a retired vice president of Huntington National Bank. He serves as Traverse County Commissioner and has been instrumental in assisting with economic development for the county. He holds a number of positions on various local and state boards, including the State of Michigan Community Corrections Board. Inman served four years on the NMU Board of Trustees and recently began a term with the NMU Foundation Board of Trustees. He graduated from the university in 1976. Vandenbusche is a history professor at Western State College of Colorado and a nationally recognized track and cross-country coach. He has coached 10 NCAA national championship teams, both men and women, and is a seven-time recipient of the national “Cross Country Coach of the Year” award. He also has written six books and a number of professional articles in historical journals. Vandenbusche was originally born in Detroit, but grew up on a farm in St. Nichols, between Marquette and Escanaba. He earned his bachelor’s degree from NMU in 1959 and holds a master's and doctorate in education from Oklahoma State University. The recipients will be honored at the annual Alumni Association Homecoming brunch on Saturday, Oct 4. |
