Alumni Association honors three graduates

BOWLING GREEN, O.—The Bowling Green State University Alumni Association will honor Ginger S. Kathrens of Fountain, Colo., Andrew E. Housholder of Bowling Green and Kristen J. Cajka of Perrysburg on Friday (Oct. 13) at its annual Homecoming weekend Alumni Awards Dinner.

Kathrens, a 1968 graduate of BGSU, will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award, which recognizes a graduate who has gained national or international distinction and whose accomplishments reflect positively upon BGSU. She is an Emmy Award-winning producer and director of feature films, television documentaries, commercials and national public service announcements. She produced Discovery Channel's “Spirits of the Rainforest,” which earned Emmy awards for Best Cultural Informational Documentary and Best Music.

Professionally, she started working as a writer for Charles Prout Productions in Orlando, Fla., in 1969, then was a writer, director and editor for Peter J. Barton Productions in Tallahassee from 1970-71. In 1972, she founded Taurus Productions in Colorado Springs. Among her productions have been 25 segments of PBS's “Wild America” series and shows for the PBS “Nature” series. She has won more than 100 awards for production excellence in national and international competitions over the past 34 years. She also wrote a book, “Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies,” based on her successful documentaries about a wild stallion.

As an undergraduate at BGSU, she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, University Chorus, Mortar Board, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta, Pi Delta Phi, French Club and WBGU-Radio/TV. She also was Greek Week Committee secretary, on the Student Publications Board and a May Queen finalist. In 1968, she was named to “Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.” She earned her bachelor's degree in speech from BGSU and a master's degree from Florida State University, where she was continuity director for WFSU-TV and a film instructor.

Housholder will receive the Alumni Service Award. The honor is presented to a graduate who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, devotion and service for the betterment of the Alumni Association. After graduating from BGSU in 1955 with a bachelor's degree in music education, he went on to earn a master's degree in music education from Potsdam State University in 1965 and did additional work toward a doctoral degree in 1973.

His education career included teaching choral and orchestra classes in the New York public school system and as a choral conductor at New York University, Dowling College and Nassau Community College and as a visiting professor at Ithaca College. He conducted more than 40 All-State Choirs in Ohio, New York and New Jersey. He also was a guest conductor for local Methodist and Presbyterian choirs.

In retirement, he has relocated to Bowling Green where he is active in service and other nonprofit organizations. He has been a tireless volunteer as a cook for Martha's Kitchen and a director for the Wood County Humane Society Board and Bridge Hospice. He has been a member of the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation board, the Bowling Green Tree Commission, Town and Gown, Rotary Club and the Exchange Club. Housholder has been instrumental as chair of the Anderson Scholarship committee and as a member of the selection committee for alumni scholarships. He also serves on the Pro Musica board and the Chapman Learning Community board.  

Cajka, who graduated from BGSU in 1995 with a degree in journalism, will receive the Recent Graduate Award, which is presented to a graduate of the past 15 years who has demonstrated a commitment to civic involvement and participation in University and Alumni Association activities.  

She is the communications manager for the Red Cross, Greater Toledo Area Chapter. Prior to her work at the Red Cross, she was the communications coordinator for Family Health Plan. As an undergraduate, she was involved with the University Honors Program and served as a public relations intern for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

She earned the American Red Cross Tiffany Award for Employee Excellence in Management and recently was named one of the “20 Under 40” honorees in the Toledo area, which recognizes individuals who are making exceptional contributions to their community and/or have distinguished themselves in their careers. Through her work at the American Red Cross, she has helped during some of the most memorable national disasters, from Sept. 11 in New York City to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

At the American Red Cross, Cajka has served as the spokesperson and as a member of the management team, the local training team and the disaster services human resource system. Her community involvement includes serving as a member of the Press Club Board of Directors, chair of the Touchstone Awards, a volunteer wish granter for Make A Wish Foundation of Northwest Ohio and a member of the Cardinal Stritch High School Board of Directors.

A reception for the honorees will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday, followed by dinner and the program at 6:30 p.m. in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Contact the BGSU Office of Alumni and Development at 419-372-2701 for more information.

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(Posted October 12, 2006 )