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October 31, 2017

SVSU recognizes outstanding alumni during annual awards ceremony

Business leaders, doctors, a dentist and a military veteran are among the eight individuals whose professional exceptionalism and community engagement were recognized during Saginaw Valley State University's annual Alumni Celebration Friday, Oct. 27.

The SVSU Alumni Association selected five individuals to receive the Distinguished Alumni award - one for each of SVSU's five academic colleges. Three other honorees received the Veteran Alumni, Young Alumni and Future Alumni awards.

From SVSU's College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jessica Bentoski earned the Distinguished Alumna Award. Bentoski received her bachelor's degree in biology in 2004. She later received a dentistry degree from the University of Michigan's School of Dentistry. Bentoski operates Saginaw Pediatric Dentistry. She is a past recipient of the Business of the Year - New Construction Award by Saginaw Township.

From the College of Business and Management, David Kowalski received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Kowalski is the current president and owner of the family-owned Euclid Automotive Supply in Bay City. Through 15 years of work with the Cub Scouts, Kowalski received honors such as the District Award of Merit and the James E. West Fellow Award. He received his bachelor's degree from SVSU in 1979.

From the College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences, Dr. Michael Langworthy received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Langworthy serves as the director of orthopedic surgery for Southcoast Health Systems in New Bedford, Massachusetts. A retired U.S. Navy captain, Langworthy served 30 years of active and reserve duty. He earned his bachelor's degree from the institution in 1984.

From the College of Education, Christopher Pryor received the Distinguished Alumnus award. The pastor of Victorious Believers Ministries Church of God in Christ in Buena Vista Township, Pryor has a passion for serving others. Prior to his pastoral work, he spent 13 years working at Pfizer Inc., a biopharmaceutical company with locations around the globe. Pryor graduated from SVSU with a bachelor's degree in management in 1995 and a master's degree in educational leadership in 2000.

From the College of Health and Human Services, Dr. Lynn Squanda-Murphy received the Distinguished Alumna Award. She is a physician for MedExpress in several Michigan locations. Squanda-Murphy graduated in 1981 from SVSU with a bachelor's degree in physical education with an emphasis in sports medicine. Those skills aided her during her time as a U.S. Army cardiac technician and medical assistant. She later attended Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in 1997.

Gretchen Evans received the Veteran Alumni Award. A retired U.S. Army command sergeant major who first enlisted in 1979, Evans served as an intelligence analyst in Heidelberg, Germany. There, she was trained as a counterintelligence agent and military spy. After serving in the Army for 27 years, she decided to resume her education. Evans graduated from SVSU in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. She is set to publish her new book, "Lessons from the Front," in November.

Marlin Jenkins received the Young Alumnus award. Jenkins, who earned a bachelor's degree in creative writing, later attended the University of Michigan's Master of Fine Arts program. He graduated in 2017. He serves as an editor for the HEArt Online literary journal, a publication committed to the promotion of social justice and the fight against discrimination. Jenkins has been published in several literary journals including The Collagist, Four Way Review, The Journal and Bennington Review, among others.

Andrew Jarmon received the Future Alumnus award. Set to graduate in December 2017 with a bachelor's degree in professional accountancy, Jarmon serves as the business manager of The Valley Vanguard, SVSU's school newspaper; co-chair of the Great Lakes Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls; and a residence assistant for SVSU's student housing operations. A graduate of L’Anse Creuse North High School in Macomb County, Jarmon interned with the Drug Enforcement Administration as part of their financial investigating team as well as with Quicken Loans, where he worked in risk management.