BOWLING GREEN, O.—Three individuals, including a Bowling Green resident, were honored by the Bowling Green State University Alumni Association at its annual alumni awards ceremony on April 5.

Dr. Janet Parks of Bowling Green received the Honorary Alumnus Award, while 2001 graduate William Gustwiller of San Diego was presented the Recent Graduate Award and Dr. David Weinandy of Grand Rapids, Mich., who earned degrees in 1981, 1982 and 1989 from BGSU, received the Alumni Service Award.

Parks has been an ardent supporter of BGSU for more than 30 years. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native began her career at BGSU as an instructor in the University’s former Women’s Health and Physical Education Department. She was promoted to assistant professor in 1971 and associate professor in 1979. In 1995, she became a full professor in the College of Education’s School of Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies.

She is a former president of the Friends of the University Libraries Board and a current member of the Library Advocates Board. In 2004, she launched a project to raise funds for the construction of a student group-study space and a cyber café on the seventh floor of the Jerome Library. She has furthered her commitment to BGSU through the Presidents Club, Falcon Club and the Dean’s Council for the College of Education and Human Development and by establishing the Janet Parks Library Fund.

Recent graduate Gustwiller is the owner and head chocolatier of San Diego-based Eclipse Chocolat. Established in 2004, the chocolate company specializes in creating exotic chocolate infusions in truffles, solid bars and other confections. Eclipse expands the boundaries of chocolate flavors while operating in an eco-friendly manner. Gustwiller also donates 10 percent of the company’s annual net profits to the development of local and regional nonprofit organizations. His creations have received positive reviews in various publications, including the San Diego Union-Tribune, are often featured at wine and chocolate-tasting events and are sold at artisan food and gift shops.

Weinandy, the Alumni Service Award recipient, served on the BGSU Alumni Association and worked with the Student Recruitment and Scholarship Committee as well as the Alumni Laureate Scholars committee. A professor in communications at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, where he also is a special assistant to the provost for campus life, Weinandy has fostered the communication skills of his students, teams of corporate employees and colleagues. He has been honored for his volunteer work with organizations such as Hospice of Holland and Greater Grand Rapids, and is a contributor to the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the Community Circle Theatre. He also has been involved with the Miss America, Miss Michigan, Miss Arkansas and Miss South Carolina pageants.

# # #

(Posted April 08, 2008 )