Alumnus Founded BGSU’s Outstanding Senior Award; Celebrating 30 Years and 3 Business Finalists

Thirty years ago, BGSU alumnus Bill Ficken ’63 and his wife, Eileen, along with the BGSU Alumni Association, developed and presented the first BGSU Outstanding Senior Award with a generous gift to recognize a graduating senior who has demonstrated a commitment to BGSU through campus and community involvement and academic achievement.

Since this is the 30^th year, Outstanding Seniors over the last 29 years were invited back to campus for an anniversary celebration during Senior Week.  They watched as the 30^th Outstanding Senior Award was presented to Cameron Friedman, College of Arts & Sciences, during the Beyond BG banquet on May 6.

Not only did an alumnus initiate and support the Outstanding Senior Award, but three of the ten nominees for the 2019 award are business seniors: Matthew Manocchio  - Marketing; Rachel Renou - International Business and Marketing; and Angela Perry-Hudson - Supply Chain Management and Applied Economics.  A fourth finalist, Paul Garbarino, is minoring in economics.

Ficken, a realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in Westlake, has more than 30 years of housing industry experience and has been a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council for 28 years, the only Emeritus member.

The BGSU alumnus explains why he started this senior recognition.  “During my term as a member of the BGSU Alumni Board of Trustees during the mid to late 1980’s, I was involved in many award presentations which were primarily focused on GPA.”

“There was growth in the number of student organizations and in student participation in these organizations,” Ficken states. “Students were applying and supporting their classroom experiences within these organizations, while benefitting BGSU at the same time. This type of student performance needed to be recognized because it reflected the total BGSU experience.”

Outstanding seniors are nominated by faculty and staff. Out of the 50+ applicants, a committee reviews the applications and selects the Top 10.  Those selected students go through an interview process with a committee comprised of students, staff, and alumni, including Bill and Eileen Ficken. The winner of this prestigious award receives $1,000 and campus-wide recognition.

Beyond BG was hosted by the BGSU Alumni Association and the Student Alumni Ambassadors.