December 22, 2021
The Shawnee State University Alumni Association recognizes five individuals for their achievements in their career fields and their communities in the presentation of the Alumni Awards. The 2021 awards include Distinguished Alumnus, Medal of Merit, Alumni Continued Service, Outstanding Recent Graduate, and Alumnus of Tomorrow.
The Distinguished Alumnus recipient is DeLano Thomas. This award is presented to an alumnus who demonstrated distinguished professional achievement, personal qualities, and service to the university. A 2016 graduate, Thomas began his degree at SSU in 2002 when he became a member of the Men’s Basketball team. In just two seasons he accumulated many records and achievements before leaving the university to pursue a professional basketball career that spanned nine years in six countries. He returned to SSU in 2012 serving as an Assistant Coach for the Men’s Basketball program while completing his degree. Thomas is now the Head Coach of the program and in his fourth season led the Men’s Basketball team to its first-ever NAIA National Championship with a 31-2 record. Thomas is a member of the SSU Athletic Hall of Fame and received honors of MSC Coach of the Year, NAIA Coach of the Year, and Don Meyer Coach of the Year in 2021.
The Medal of Merit recipient is Dr. Curt Laird. This award is presented to an alumnus who has demonstrated career achievements and outstanding performance in their profession. A 1998 Sports Management graduate, Dr. Laird is the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio. During his twenty-year career in higher education, he has held a variety of roles in multiple areas including Dean of Health & Human Services at Columbus State. In his Dean’s role he engaged in several collaborate efforts with a variety of businesses and nonprofit organizations, aiding the evolution of the university’s position in Central Ohio as a community leader. He also led efforts in the planning and implementation of the College’s School of Hospitality Management & Culinary Arts. Dr. Laird is a member of the SSU College of Professional Studies Advisory Board and the SSU Sport Management Program Advisory Board.
The Alumni Continued Service recipient is Adam Miller. This award is presented to an alumnus currently working at Shawnee State University who has demonstrated distinguished professional achievements, personal qualities, and service while working at their alma mater. A 2009 Plastics Engineering Technologies graduate, Miller has been a professor in the Department of Engineering Technologies at SSU since 2012. He served for four years as the Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives in the College of Professional Studies and in 2018 was selected as the Chairperson for the Department of Engineering Technologies where he leads in the planning and advancement of the department, its programs, and its students. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Miller led a team of students to develop and manufacture plastic face shields for first responders in the Portsmouth area and surrounding communities. To date, Miller has collaborated as lead writer and manager of over $1M in grants including a $250K Appalachian Regional Commission grant in aid of the PPE Face Shield Project to increase production.
The Outstanding Recent Graduate recipient is Abby Brinkman. This award is presented to an alumnus who has received their first baccalaureate degree from the institution within the last five years and who demonstrates the positive impact their university education has had on their profession. A 2018 History graduate, Brinkman served as the Student Government Association President, as a Resident Assistant, and as a member of the Women’s Tennis team during her time at SSU. After graduation, she attended the Florida State University College of Law from which she graduated in 2021 and became a licensed attorney. She also graduated from the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School during her time in law school. She is currently a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps serving as a Judge Advocate.
The Alumnus of Tomorrow recipient is Derek Stapleton. The award is presented to a graduating student who has displayed commitment to their individual endeavors – academic, social, and personal – and who shows great promise toward their future endeavors. Stapleton graduated from SSU in May 2021 with a degree in Respiratory Therapy. During the pandemic and while taking classes, Stapleton took a job at Adena Regional Medical Center as a Student Respiratory Therapist to help support Respiratory Therapists during the pandemic. After graduation he completed his boards and began working at two hospitals in Columbus, Ohio as a Registered Respiratory Therapist and is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Health Science at SSU.
The SSU Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Alumni Awards until Mar. 1, 2022. The nomination form can be found online at shawneestatealumni.com/awards.