Alumni celebration honors Merit Award winners and BW Class of '67

Baldwin Wallace University graduates from differing decades returned to the Berea campus on Friday-Saturday, May 19-20, for a weekend of alumni events highlighted by the "golden reunion" of the Class of 1967, recognition of the 2017 Alumni Merit Award Winners and a Gala Dinner connecting BW alumni across generations.

Four recognized with BW’s highest alumni honor

A highlight of the weekend was the awarding of Alumni Merit recognition to four distinguished graduates. The 2017 recipients of this highest honor bestowed on BW alumni were

• William Bank '63, for his service to our country, his leadership in healthcare and academic medicine, and his dedicated mentorship within his field,

• Brian Hall '87 MBA, for his dedication to civic issues through entrepreneurial leadership, collaboration and inclusion in the business community,

• Michael Rousek '97, '00 MBA, for his devoted efforts, at home and abroad, to the safety, security and human rights of all; and for his active involvement as an alumnus in support of BW students, and

• Andrew Weyrich '85, for his internationally recognized contributions to and leadership within the field of hematology research.

Read the in-depth bios of the 2017 honorees, tracing their outstanding achievements and service to their professions, communities and alma mater.

A time to remember, reconnect and celebrate

Friday night’s golden class reunion welcomed members of the Class of 1967 with a wine and cheese reception with President Bob Helmer, followed by a class dinner hosted by BW Student Ambassadors and stargazing in the Burrell Observatory. The class also presented a collective philanthropic gift to support today’s students and renewed its colors on the Ring of Ribbons, a BW tradition that includes the class colors of every graduating class since 1915.

During Saturday’s Alumni Celebration, grads from every era enjoyed continental breakfast and an update from Provost Steve Stahl, engaging "School’s in Session" faculty presentations and tours of a campus that has evolved since their days in Berea.

At the luncheon recognizing the Alumni Merit Award winners, BW also presented the 2017 Family Heritage Award to the Black, Henderson, Koch Family, representing many generations of graduates and impact on BW beginning in 1902!

The day was capped by a Gala Dinner with live music and dancing and reminiscing.

The weekend also included affinity reunions for various groups including a gathering of Newman Center alumni and "Brothers of the 1960s" Phi Kappa Tau and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternities. Phi Tau was also celebrating its Diamond Anniversary--75 years at BW.