ALMA — Five Alma College graduates will receive Tartan Awards during Homecoming weekend, Sept. 25–26, the college announced. The awards are scheduled to be presented at a luncheon Saturday, Sept. 26.
The recipients, as listed by the college:
Amy McGinnis, class of 1992 — Hugh Brenneman Distinguished Alumni Award. McGinnis teaches in Central Michigan University's management department and directs student-engagement and leadership-scholar programs there. A first-generation college student, she earned a master's degree at Michigan State University and previously led human resources and communication work at Lansing Community College. The college notes six years on the West Midland Family Center board and teaching and advising awards from CMU.
Ryan Webb, class of 2000 — George and Bess (Brown) Hebert Award, which recognizes loyalty and service to the college. Webb has spent 25 years at Pfizer, where he is a team lead in cardiovascular marketing, and holds an MBA from the University of Michigan. At Alma he played four years of varsity soccer, on teams that won two conference championships, and three of tennis. He co-founded an endowed scholarship, the Eric M. Didocha Memorial Merit Award.
Brent Neubecker, class of 1995 — Smith Distinguished Service Award. Neubecker, who studied history and political science, is a former Alma College alumni director and annual fund director. He was a four-year baseball starter and captain, has been president of the Alma Kiwanis Club and coaches youth football, baseball and softball. The award is named for Art Smith, class of 1938, and Carra (Jones) Smith, class of 1942.
Libby Flatoff, class of 2021 — Young Alumni Award. Flatoff is a program and policy associate at the Arms Control Association in Washington, D.C., and holds a master's degree in nonproliferation and terrorism studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. At Alma she competed in Model United Nations and on the swim team and studied in Peru and India.
Betsy Pilon, class of 2003 — Lynne Sherwood Women's Leadership Award. Pilon founded and leads Hope for HIE, a nonprofit the college says serves about 15,000 families worldwide affected by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, a form of infant brain injury. She co-founded a research registry for the condition and serves on national child-neurology panels. At Alma she played in the symphony orchestra and was part of the first dance team.
The Homecoming parade grand marshal is William “Will” Nichols, who led the Alma College choirs from 1983 to 2024. The college credits him with founding its Festival of Carols and leading 12 international choir tours along with more than 35 in the United States. Nichols holds a master's degree and a doctorate in music from Michigan State University. His wife, Pam, a retired Alma High School English teacher, traveled with the choirs.