Second local resident honored for his work at Austin College
Sherman, Texas -- Blake Utter, owner and general manager of Blake Utter Ford in Denison, will receive Austin College’s Heywood C. Clemons Volunteer Service Award at the 2019 Homecoming Alumni and Volunteer Awards Dinner on October 25. Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities continue through Sunday.
The Clemons service award was named in 1997 to honor the loyalty and dedication of long-time Austin College Board of Trustees Chair Heywood C. Clemons, who died in 2013.
Utter, a 2007 graduate of the college and an avid sports fan, is being recognized for his continuing service to the college as the “voice of the ’Roos.” Blake has given his time to announce home football and basketball games for Austin College sports for several years.
He also serves on the board of directors for Boys and Girls Club in Denison and for The Rehabilitation Center in Sherman. He and the Utter Ford Family support local school districts by sponsoring the Ford Drive 4UR School fundraising events. He is active in various community events locally.
The college will also recognize Michael Deen, Austin College dean of students, as the Cindy Curtis Bean Service-to-Alumni award recipient. The College’s Alumni Board created the award in recognition of staff or faculty who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to the support and education of Austin College alumni. The award is named to honor Cindy Curtis Bean of Sherman, Austin College Class of 1975, who worked many years in the College’s Alumni Office.
Deen moved to Sherman in 2005 to begin work at Austin College. During his years on campus, he has advanced from associate director of Student Life to director of Student Life, and now, to dean of students. He has further served the College on various campus committees and initiatives and worked on behalf of the college in his professional organizations. He also is involved in Mosaic Worship at First United Methodist Church in Sherman, the Building Bearcats Bond Committee, and the Keep Sherman Beautiful Commission.
Three alumni will be recognized as the 2019 Distinguished Alumni for exemplifying leadership and ethical standards in their professions and communities. Added to the Distinguished Alumni number is one First Decade Award, for distinguished accomplishment within the first 10 years after graduation.
Madison Messenger of Dallas, class of 2014, will be honored with the First Decade Award. As the Child Program Director for the North Texas Food Bank in Dallas, Messinger oversees programs that serve nearly 13,000 children in the area.
Distinguished alumna Amanda Hammel of Houston, Class of 1995, is senior vice president and chief information officer of Memorial Hermann Health System headquartered in Houston. She is a nationally recognized leader for population health technology, and has enabled Memorial Hermann to become a national leader of Accountable Care Organizations for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Distinguished alumnus Jeffrey Levin, M.D., of Tyler, Texas, Class of 1979, is senior vice president for Academic Affairs and Provost of University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. He has helped develop Austin College January Term programming at UTHSC and has assisted in establishing graduate school Gateway agreements between Austin College and UTHSC in public health and biotechnology.
Distinguished alumnus Don Newsom of McKinney, Texas, Class of 1964 and MA Class of 1970, is a career educator, coach and administrator who retired as superintendent of Celina Independent School District. Newsom has been an effective ambassador for the College as he has introduced many gifted student-athletes to the opportunities at the liberal arts school.
The award dinner is one of many activities scheduled for the annual Austin College Homecoming and Family Weekend. For more information about the dinner and other events, visit www.austincollege.edu/homecoming.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and more than 100 expert faculty members allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. This year, the campus recognizes 100 years of co-education and has had several opportunities to recognize the history of women and accomplishments of current alumnae. Austin College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.