ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Awards
The Alumni Awards ceremony, held this year at Homecoming, honored those with a passion and commitment to Frostburg State University.
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
One of the most prestigious honors bestowed on FSU alumni. Consideration for this award is restricted to those alumni who demonstrate outstanding professional career growth; community involvement; demonstrated interest in FSU; philanthropic commitment to FSU; special achievements, awards, honors and distinctions; and/or educational background, including honors and involvement in special activities.
Dr. Johnston “Jay” Hegeman ’73/M’81
Assistant Vice President and Registrar at Frostburg State University. He earned his doctorate in education from West Virginia University. He is a member of the Bobcat Hall of Fame (2011 induction class), an honorary member of Phi Eta Sigma first-year honor society, was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, was Conference Soccer Coach of the Year three times, chairs the Staff Senate and served on the committee that created PAWS Pantry. He created the Frostburg Summer League, has been a member of the Friends Aware Group Home Advisory and of the Frostburg Lions and he has served numerous local sports organizations.
Hon. William J. Murray, Jr. ’79
Associate Justice for the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District in Sacramento, Calif. He earned his law degree from George Washington University. His career has led him from a prosecutor in Brooklyn, N.Y., District Attorney’s Office, to prosecutor in the San Joaquin County, Calif., District Attorney’s Office, to assistant district attorney. In 1995, he was appointed to the California Superior Court and became the second-youngest Superior Court judge. In 2003, he was appointed to a three-year term on the California Judicial Council, then to the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District in 2010. He has served on several boards and created an award-winning Court-Community Leadership and Liaison program. His most recent honors include the California Judges Association Justice Bernard Jefferson Award for Excellence in Judicial Education and the San Joaquin County Office of Education Mock Trial Hall of Fame
Rosemary Kennedy Fagler ’83
Economic Development Manager for Weyerhaeuser, the world’s largest private landowner of timberlands. Her background includes community relations, advertising and marketing for specialty businesses and advertising agency work. She is a board member for the Cade Museum of Creativity and Intervention, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services and the PIE Center, and she serves on the Steering Committee for the Florida Chamber International Trade & Logistics Institute. She has stayed connected with FSU through Dr. Judy Deiruf and has returned to campus to speak with students. Among her honors are the Impact Award by Business in Greater Gainesville and the Women Who Make a Difference by the Girl Scouts of North Central Florida.
Young Alumni Achievement Award
Recognizes emerging leaders who are graduates, are under 40 years of age and have used their FSU experiences to make significant impacts in their respective professions, local communities, service organizations, professional associations, etc. They must have made an impact in business, research, artistic, leadership, community, educational and/or philanthropic endeavors.
Antoine C. Boyd M’13
Controller for Behavioral Health System Baltimore. He leads the division that maintains a comprehensive set of internal controls, directing all general accounting and financial functions in accordance with GAAP and federal/state regulations. He is a Certified Healthcare Financial Professional and a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional. He is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and Healthcare Financial Management Association, as well as volunteers as a mentor for the National Association of Health Service Executives.
Brandon Butler ’05
Consultant with Greenwill Consulting Group. He was formerly the County Administrator for Allegany County. He also earned a law degree from the University of Baltimore. His nomination reads, “He is a fearless leader, an achiever, someone who never gives up. … He has worked tirelessly to transform government through writing laws, advocating for them, and promoting the well-being of communities and organizations through legislative efforts.”
Mark Freeman Price ’11
Academic Advisor, University of Maryland Global Campus. Active with the Alumni Association Board of Directors since 2012, he has served as secretary/treasurer and was instrumental in initiating Alumni Office social media efforts with Twitter and Instagram. He has also served on the Student Outreach Committee. At UMGC, he has been a member of the Staff Advisory Council and a representative on the University System of Maryland’s Council of University System Staff and participated in UMGC’s Middle States Accreditation and Strategic Planning processes.
Honorary Alumni Award
Given to a non-alumnus who has made consistent and noteworthy contributions to the advancement of Frostburg State University through their time, their talents and their treasures.
Richard “Dick” Pesta
Professor Emeritus of the College of Business. In addition to educating students in his classroom, he went above and beyond his role as a professor by setting up an endowed scholarship, the Richard E. and Dorothy K. Pesta Business Scholarship, and he supports various other funds. His son and daughter are Frostburg alumni. Even in retirement, prior to his relocation to Greenville, S.C., he stayed actively involved in FSU’s community, and it was easy to spot him at a WFWM reception, CES concert or FSU Foundation event.
