BC3 honors top alumni

By SHARI L. BERG Eagle Staff Writer

April 18, 2004 Last Updated: January 06, 2005 12:14 PM Local News

5 chosen for inaugural presentation

BUTLER TWP - From a chief executive officer for a big corporation to the Butler County treasurer, Butler County Community College's alumni have made quite a name for themselves.

Those accomplishments will be celebrated at the first alumni awards at 6:45 p.m. April 30 in the BC3 Succop Theater.

BC3 alumni director Michelle Jamieson said the awards are a way to recognize the accomplishments of graduates.

"We developed this award as a way to showcase the individuals who have achieved success based on what they received here," Jamieson said.

BC3 foundation executive director Bill Speidel said it's amazing how many successful people BC3 has graduated.

"We've got all these people out there doing things we know nothing about, and this is just a way to promote that," Speidel said.

Twenty alumni were nominated for the awards, with five being selected as winners by a panel of judges consisting of college personnel.

"You have 20 people who were nominated and all are incredible success stories," Speidel said.

Aside from the alumni being presented with awards that night, other alumni are participating as well, Jamieson said.

Melinda Ripper, an alumni and a teacher at the school, will play the piano during the social time. And the emcee for the evening will be alumni Mike Franko.

This year's five winners are:

Diane (Rudisill) Marburger - A 1981 graduate, she went on the earn her bachelor's degree in finance from Indiana (Pa.) University. She is now the county treasurer.

Marburger's community involvement includes Leadership Butler County, Glade Run United Presbyterian Church, Dunbar 4-H and the Career Women's Club of Southwestern Butler County.

Her past awards include the Business and Professional Women's award and the Women in Government Award 2002.

Andrew "Drew" Matonak - A 1974 graduate, he went on the receive his doctorate in education from the University of Houston. He is president of the Northwest Iowa Community College.

His community involvement includes the Visioning Committee in Sheldon, Iowa, Executive Leadership Forum in Sheldon and the Leadership Lake County in Mentor, Ohio.

Jessica Forsythe - A 1969 graduate, she earned an associate's degree in applied science for architectural drafting/design. She is now an employee at K1 Career.

John Stuper - A 1977 graduate, he went on to earn his master's degree in English from Slippery Rock University in 1989. He now is the director for World Class Baseball, LLC.

His community involvement includes running a baseball camp and clinics and the Special Olympics World Games in New Haven.

His recent awards include the Butler Area Hall of Fame and the Point Park College Hall of Fame.

Thomas Osborne - A 1970 graduate, he went on to earn his bachelor's degree in accounting from Youngstown University. He is the chief executive officer of Tnemec of Kansas City, Mo.

His community involvement includes charities and fund-raising events, including the United Way, Boy Scouts of America and the Greater Cleveland Growth Association.

He is the current chairman of the National Paint and Coatings Association.

The awards ceremony is open to the community and Speidel encourages BC3 alumni and supporters of the college to attend.