News Highlights

Nine graduates to receive Distinguished Alumni Awards

April 29 awards ceremony

Nine Minnesota State Mankato graduates have been named 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award winners for exceptional achievement and contributions to their professions and communities.

2011-05-03
Minnesota State University, Mankato Media Relations Office news release [2/23/2011]

Nine Minnesota State University, Mankato graduates have been named 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award winners for exceptional achievement and contributions to their professions and communities.

The awards will be presented by the Minnesota State Mankato Alumni Association on Friday, April 29, at 6 p.m. at Best Western Plus Hotel and Restaurant, North Mankato.

The event will honor David Cowan, Mankato; Eugénie de Rosier, St. Paul; David Frauenshuh, Edina, Minn.; Todd Kelzenberg, Minneapolis; Michael LaCroix-Fralish, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.; Gunder Myran, Stanwood, Mich.; Mary Story, Minneapolis; Betty Wariari, Maseru, Lesotho; and Walt Wolff, Mankato.

Awards will be presented in four categories:

• The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, to graduates who have achieved high rank or honor in their professions, had a widespread effect on their communities, and accomplished over the course of their careers;
• The Harold J. Fitterer Service Award, to graduates who have given distinguished service to Minnesota State Mankato, and have preserved and promoted university programs with their time, treasure and talents;
• The Distinguished Alumni Humanitarian Award, to graduates whose lives exemplify service to humankind, and who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to humanitarian causes;
• The Distinguished Young Alumni Award, to graduates 35 years old or younger who reached personal or professional achievements early in their careers, positively impacted their communities, and show promise for continued success.

Frauenshuh, Myran and Story will receive the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.

Frauenshuh, CEO of Frauenshuh Companies, a commercial real estate development firm, graduated in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Myran, president and founder of Myran and Associations, a college and school consulting firm, graduated in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in business education.

Story graduated in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in home economics (food and nutrition). She is associate dean for student life at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health, and an epidemiology and community health professor.

Cowan and Wolff will receive the Fitterer Service Award.

Cowan, facilities services director at Minnesota State Mankato, graduated in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Wolff, for many years Minnesota State Mankato’s admissions director and recently interim dean for student affairs, graduated in 1984 with a master’s degree in continuing studies.

De Rosier and Wariari will receive the Humanitarian Award.

De Rosier, a principal and writer for de Rosier Writes, graduated in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in English. From 2006-2008 de Rosier served with the Peace Corps in the Philippines.

Wariari, who works with families impacted by HIV and AIDS in the African nation of Lesotho, graduated in 2008 with a master’s degree in health science (community health).

Kelzenberg and LaCroix-Fralish will receive the Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

Kelzenberg, vice president of business development at AdvisorNet Financial, graduated in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in finance.

LaCroix-Fralish, director of in-vivo pharmacology and behavioral phenotyping at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, N.Y., graduated in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in biology (toxicology).

Those who want more information about the April 29 awards event may go to http://www.mnsu.edu/alumni/daa/ or call (507) 389-3235.

Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive, doctoral university with 15,393 students, is part of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system.

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