HS Alliance
The President’s Inaugural Dinner Friday at the Sycamore Banquet Center honored recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana State University and recognized the philanthropy of generous donors.
The event, presented by ISU Federal Credit Union, was moderated by Mike Alley, ISU Foundation Board Member Emeritus, and Buffy Boulet, ISU Foundation Board Member.
The laureats :
Distinguished Alumni Award
Since 1957, Indiana State has presented the Distinguished Alumni Award to alumni who have distinguished themselves in their professional achievements and achieved significant achievements that have benefited their local and global communities.
Honoré – Michael “Mike” Alkire, ’85
Alkire grew up in Akron, Ohio, and was a two-time All-American swimmer before moving to Indiana State. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in computer science. Alkire is now President and CEO of Premier Inc., a technology-driven healthcare improvement company, bringing together an alliance of over 4,400 hospitals and healthcare systems and approximately 225,000 other vendors and organizations.
Since joining Premier, he has taken the company public and created more than $ 4 billion in value for member health systems across the country. Alkire is a thought leader in the healthcare industry and has led Premier’s efforts to address a nationwide drug shortage, testifying before the United States House of Representatives regarding Premier’s research into the shortages and price increases in the gray market. More recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he led his company to use domestic suppliers and global sourcing to bring 226 million masks and respirators, 106 million gowns and 750 million examination gloves to U.S. suppliers in when needed.
Alkire currently sits on the board of directors of Premier Inc. as well as the board of directors of the Alliance for Healthcare Policy, and sits on the Healthcare Leadership Council. He is also the host of the InsideOut podcast, sharing compelling stories of innovation in America’s healthcare system. He was named one of Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Chief Operating Officers of Healthcare for 2018.
Alkire and his family reside in Dallas, Texas.
Recipients – Paul Chaney, ’88, and Susan Chaney, ’92
The Chaneys are both first generation college graduates. Both were active in Greek life at ISU – Paul as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi and Susan as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Paul Chaney attended ISU because he has a great ROTC program. He served on active duty, in the Army Reserve and in the Army National Guard from 1983 to 2009. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel with two Bronze Star medals and after serving in Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Paul Chaney has also worked for over 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry. He is currently the Executive Director of District Sales for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, overseeing a team of 10 cardiovascular sales professionals.
Susan Chaney, originally from Indianapolis, attended ISU “because it was a smaller university that offered my major” and “was close to home so I could come home frequently to visit my family.” She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising. She is the owner of Pinky’s Classy Creations LLC, an online retail store specializing in personalized gifts for special occasions.
The couple are active in community service. Paul Chaney mentored young people as part of his fraternity’s Guide Right program; AAU runway trained; and served as Big Brother for over five years. Paul Chaney currently sits on the board of directors of the ISU Foundation. Susan Chaney supervises the students in her sorority.
In Alabama, the Chaneys are members of the Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. The couple reside in Madison, Alabama.
Honoré – Richard “Rich” Porter, ’77
Porter, of Hammond, Indiana, earned a business management degree while competing for the ISU track team as a hurdler.
Porter’s 40-year career includes positions with Kimball International, Rockwell International and Ingersoll International. For 15 years, he has been a partner in a private equity group. He built a platform of manufacturing companies in Ohio and New Hampshire.
The Porters are used to giving to the ISU. In 2015, Rich was instrumental in donating $ 500,000 in software to the College of Technology at Hurco Companies, where he serves on the board of directors. Porter and his wife, Robin, recently donated $ 250,000 to establish the Rich & Robin Porter Cancer Research Center. The donation will support five research fellows.
Porter currently sits on the ISU Foundation Board as President. He also sits on the boards of the James Cancer Hospital (Ohio State University) Foundation and the French Oil Company. Porters reside in Troy, Ohio, and Hilton Head, SC
Student Philanthropy Award
The award recognizes students in the State of Indiana for their dedication and significant contributions to enhancing the philanthropic culture of the University.
Honoré – The Council of Honors
The Honors Council has championed student donations by organizing events and activities. They produced creative videos to energize students while highlighting the importance of philanthropy in the state of Indiana.
ISU John P. Newton Spirit Award
The John P. Newton Spirit of ISU Award was established in 2010 to honor John Newton’s long-standing dedication and service to Indiana State University. This award honors alumni who, like John, show a deep connection to their alma mater.
Honoré – Sycamore Alumni Legacy of Change Endowment (SALCE) Group
The SALCE group was formed with the goal of further supporting students in their education while creating a culture of philanthropy and engagement among black alumni. Their vision, dedication and philanthropic commitment has led to the creation of a scholarship to support students who strive to be a catalyst for change in their communities.
Walk on it! Awards
The march forward! The award is the most prestigious award given by the Indiana State University Foundation. It honors transformational philanthropy at Indiana State University.
Honorés – Susan and Norman Abazoris
Sue and Norman Abazoris donated $ 300,000 to the State of Indiana to establish the Susan Dauberman Abazoris Fellowship at Bayh College of Education. The endowed scholarship is the first to support students pursuing a master’s degree in educational guidance.
Honorés – Jerry and Jan Cockrell
Jerry and Jan Cockrell have been loyal donors to the State of Indiana for over 30 years. . The couple created two endowed scholarships to support students at the College of Health and Human Services and the College of Technology.
Recipients – Sandy Senior Dauer and Keith Dauer
The Dauers created a $ 250,000 scholarship to support students and faculty in the history department. The endowment will provide support for academic and cultural learning experiences through travel.
Honoree – Magnet Forensics
The company’s $ 1 million software donation provides cybercriminology students and faculty with access to the company’s XIOM Cyber software and training.
Media contacts:
Mark Alesia, Director of University Communication
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(C) 812-229-8020
Dianne Powell, Associate Director of University Communications
(O) 812-237-8764
(C) 812-878-2131