海角社区

They will also be recognized at the President鈥檚 Alumni Recognition Reception/Dinner running from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, in the 海角社区 Pond Student Union Ballroom. Scheduled events include a reception at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and recognition of Alumni Award recipients at 8 p.m. Cost is $47.70 per person. Reservations are required for assigned seating. Contact (800) 933-4781, (208) 282-3755 or alumni@isu.edu.

The award recipients are: The Grand Parade Marshal, Idaho Potato Commission; 海角社区 Distinguished Service Award, Debbie Green; the 海角社区 Achievement Award, Dr. Maria Wong; the William J. Bartz Award, Mike Prime; the Young Alumni Award, Hillary Merkley; the President鈥檚 Medallion Award, Dr. Alan Stanek and Alan Van Orden; Distinguished Alumna Award, Marilyn Kent Byrne and 海角社区 Alumni Special Friend, Terry Fredrickson

The biographies of each of the honorees follow:

Grand Parade Marshal 鈥� Idaho Potato Commission 鈥� The generosity of the Idaho Potato Commission is evident at 海角社区鈥檚 Holt Arena. The new digital scoreboards were installed in 2016 and have created a visually pleasing and informational resource for all in attendance, particularly the students of 海角社区. 

Established in 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission is the state agency responsible for promoting and protecting the famous "Grown in Idaho庐" seal, a federally registered trademark that assures consumers they are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho potatoes. Idaho's ideal growing conditions, including rich, volcanic soil, climate and irrigation differentiate Idaho potatoes from potatoes grown in other states. The Idaho Potato Commission represents more than 600 local potato growers who produce nearly two-dozen varieties of russet potatoes and red, yellow and fingerlings. Idaho produces 11 million pounds of potatoes annually on 300,000 acres and accounts for one-third of the U.S. crop each year. 

海角社区 Distinguished Service Award  鈥� Debbie Green 鈥� Green is the director of scholarships at 海角社区.  Born and raised in Idaho Falls, Green was recruited to play golf at 海角社区 and was voted one of the most valuable players of the Big Sky Championship team in 1994.

Green earned her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from 海角社区.  She has worked at 海角社区 for more than 20 years.  As a grant writer for the Institute of Rural Health, Green brought in more than $2 million in grant funding; was the director of the Idaho Rural Health Association, Idaho Community Health Corps, Idaho鈥檚 Health Repayment and Community Scholarship Programs and more.

Green has been a first-year seminar instructor, is past president of the 海角社区 Women鈥檚 Club, and serves on various boards and committees geared towards helping students pursue their career goals.

In 2011 Green became associate director of scholarships, and in 2016 was promoted to director of scholarships. Debbie is married to David Green of Pocatello and has three sons, Nate, Zach and Scott.

海角社区 Achievement Award 鈥� Maria Wong 鈥� Wong is professor and director of the Development and Resilience Lab in the Psychology Department at 海角社区.

She received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Chicago and completed postdoctoral work in substance use at the University of Michigan.

Her research examined risk and protective factors associated with important developmental outcomes such as substance use, suicidal behavior and resilience.

Her current work focuses on understanding how sleep and self-regulation (control of affect, behavior and cognitive processes) affect substance use.

Her work has been funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Her research was cited in articles published by National Public Radio, Time Magazine, BBC, CNN, NBC, Reuters and the Associated Press.

William J. Bartz Award 鈥� Mike Prime 鈥� Prime is a retired co-founder of Option Care, a nationally franchised pharmacy provider of intravenous home therapy started in 1980.

Option Care was the first to provide this cost-effective business model and its network of franchised community based pharmacies became one of the leading providers of home infusion therapy in the United States. By 1991 Option Care had 180 pharmacies in 41 states.

Mike and his wife Robyn established the Michael T. and Robyn K. Prime Pharmacy Scholarship Endowment in 2000, and the Mike and Robyn Prime Endowment fund in 2009 to provide support for the College of Pharmacy at the L.S. Skaggs Complex at 海角社区-Meridian Health Science Center.

They were also inaugural supporters of the construction of the Stephens Performing Arts Center and support many other university events.

Prime received the 海角社区 College of Pharmacy Professional Achievement Award in 1993 and is currently a member of the 海角社区 Foundation Board. Mike and Robyn are both 1970 graduates; Mike with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in pharmacy and Robyn (Whitaker) with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in education. Mike and Robyn have one son, David.

Young Alumni Award鈥� Hillary Merkley 鈥�  Merkley received her Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary education at 海角社区, with a major in physical education and a minor in sociology.

Merkley, competing as a thrower, heptathlete, hurdler and relay member, won two track and field Big Sky Championships as a Bengal in 1999 and 2001. She was named Big Sky All-Academic from 1999-2001.

After completing her bachelor鈥檚 degree, she competed post-collegiately in track and field and was an assistant coach at 海角社区. She then completed a master鈥檚 degree in physical education and athletic administration at 海角社区, studying fatigue in elite pole vaulters.

After earning her master鈥檚 degree, she held several coaching positions at the collegiate, high school and junior high school levels. In 2012, she was inducted into the 海角社区 Hall of Fame.

In 2013, she returned to an assistant track and field coaching position at 海角社区 and completed a master鈥檚 degree in mental health counseling in 2016. She recently took over as head coach of the 海角社区 track and field program.

President鈥檚 Medallion Award鈥� Alan Stanek 鈥� Stanek and his wife Janette, established an endowment to provide annual scholarship awards to students enrolled in the music department at 海角社区.

Stanek is a highly respected musician who has been honored both locally and internationally. He is an accomplished clarinetist who has taught and performed worldwide, serving in many distinguished positions.

Before obtaining his status as a professor emeritus with 海角社区鈥檚 music program, he served as conductor of the Idaho State-Civic-Symphony 1976-1980, and chair of the Department of Music during his entire tenure at 海角社区 1976-2001.

Janette Stanek earned her Master of Education degree in special education at 海角社区. Music scholarships benefit students majoring in music who possess the desire to teach, perform, inspire, and instill appreciation for the art of music.

President鈥檚 Medallion Award鈥� Alan Van Orden鈥�Van Orden received an associate degree in accounting from Ricks College in 1960, a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting from 海角社区 in 1965, and a master鈥檚 degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois in 1966. Van Orden received his Certified Public Accountant license from the State of Idaho in November 1965. He is a member of the Naarden Financial Group LLC and is a partner in the CPA firm of Jordan & Company, Chartered where he began employment in June 1969.

He has served on many boards including the Board of Accountancy, board of the Idaho State-Civic-Symphony, Advisory Board for the Salvation Army and the Idaho Community Foundation, who earlier this year honored Van Orden as the 2017 Friend of the Foundation for Eastern Idaho.  Currently, Van Orden is a member of the 海角社区 Foundation Board of Directors and serves as the treasurer.  Alan his wife Sherry May have eight children.

Distinguished Alumna Award鈥� Marilyn Kent Byrne 鈥� Byrne graduated from 海角社区 in 1967 after being named 鈥淥utstanding Junior Woman.鈥� As an educator, she worked with students from sixth to 12th grade as a teacher, assistant principal and principal.  

After receiving her Ph.D. in mid-life, she began her career in higher education as a professor and then Dean of Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership at Doane University in Lincoln, Nebraska.   

Her honors include the 1999 海角社区 College of Education Professional Achievement Award, as well as being the namesake of the Marilyn Kent Byrne Student Success Center at Texas A&M in the College of Education & Human Development.  In addition she co-founded Pink Alliance, a nonprofit providing newly identified breast cancer patients with information, support and financial assistance.

Marilyn and Bill met in the first month of their freshman year at 海角社区.  In honor of their 50th wedding anniversary this year, they donated George Lundeen鈥檚 鈥淰alentine鈥� to 海角社区 to celebrate the story of the many Bengals who fall in love and find their lifelong partners at 海角社区. Bill鈥檚 brothers (Mike and Jim) and Marilyn鈥檚 sister (Nancy) are also 海角社区 graduates.

海角社区 Alumni Special Friend 鈥� Terry Fredrickson 颅鈥� Terry Fredrickson is the co-owner of the Gate City Gray鈥檚, CEO of New Day Products, serves on the Bannock Youth Foundation and is a past Vice President for ACCESS Idaho. He has served on the Regional Advisory Committee for substance abuse programs in Pocatello, and the Governor鈥檚 Council for the purchases from a non-profit serving people with disabilities.

Civic affiliations for Fredrickson include membership with Civitan, the Centennial Rotary Club, and the Gate City Grays Booster Club.

A graduate of the 海角社区 leadership program, Fredrickson is also a volunteer and a sponsor of American Legion Baseball.

He is also a recipient of the Commitment to Community award for his work to increase opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Fredrickson earned an associate鈥檚 degree from College of Southern Idaho and a bachelor's degree in political science from 海角社区, where he was Assoicated Students of 海角社区 president.