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Alumni Association Awards

Nine alumni were honored for their volunteer service to Oberlin during the Alumni Association's fall dinner and awards ceremony September 20. Association President Clyde Owan '79 also thanked retiring executive board members Diane Kenty '77, Owen Cramer '62, Janet Heininger '74, Jim Harrington '73, Sarah Coade Mandell '87, and Greg Pinelo '91.

Eric Nilson '82 Distinguished Service Award A veteran Oberlin volunteer, Eric co-founded Oberlin Lambda Alumni and helped establish association policy for affiliate groups. His alumni leadership roles have included regional coordinator of the Lorain County Club and treasurer, then president, of the Alumni Association. He served on the 1995 Strategic Issues Committee and as chair of the Oberlin Fund on the Campaign Steering Committee. Eric also participates regularly in career seminars and reunion events. J. Harvey Baker '66 Certificate of Appreciation Harvey and his late wife, Barbara Lee, sponsored a winter term project in woodworking and rural community living for 19 years. As a founding member of Dunmire Hollow Community and a board member of the Fellowship for International Community, Baker was honored for reaching out and educating Oberlin students. Kim Golden '76 Certificate of Appreciation Kim planned a very successful 25th reunion, including the creation of the faculty lecture series and All-Alumni Sing, which have become cornerstone events at subsequent reunions. George and Ruth Schoeni Bent, both '52 Class Presidents of the Year The Bents planned their 50th-year reunion last May, which included a successful class recital, three panel discussions, two parties, and a formal dinner. The Class of 1952 set a record for the most classmates to attend a 50th reunion. Joanna Garske Sacks '85 Regional Coordinator of the Year Joanna has developed her Obie-dense home city of San Francisco into one of the association's most active regions. She created a local e-mail newsletter and has had great success at recruiting other volunteers to help organize and manage events. Kristen Peterson Hopkins '83 Class Agent of the Year Kristen co-chaired her cluster's 20th reunion gift committee, which last year exceeded its fundraising goal of $550,000 by nearly $75,000--establishing a new record total for a 20th reunion. She has also suggested and undertaken several peer-to-peer fundraising efforts. Josh Levy '94 and Jan Miyake '96 Alumni Admissions Volunteers of the Year This husband and wife team organized the largest ever alumni interview day in New York City, with 126 prospective students attending. They have served as representatives at numerous college fairs, conducted student interviews, and assisted in planning a fall preview event.

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