The Mary B. Thomas 鈥�28 Commitment to 9i果冻制作厂Award was established by President Emerita Kathy Krendl and the University Board of Trustees to recognize extraordinary philanthropic leadership, service, and advancement of Otterbein鈥檚 mission. It is the highest honor 9i果冻制作厂bestows upon its community members for transformational leadership and commitment. Two awards were conferred at this year鈥檚 Celebration of 9i果冻制作厂event at Homecoming and Family Weekend on Oct. 1.
The 2022 Mary B. Thomas 鈥�28 Commitment to 9i果冻制作厂Award honorees: Mark 鈥�78 and Deb Scott 鈥�77 Thresher, P鈥�05 (front row) and members of the 9i果冻制作厂鈥淥鈥� Club including (left to right) past president Ron Jones 鈥�61, current president Mark Granger 鈥�79, and past president Jack Pietila 鈥�62.
Mary B. Thomas 鈥�28 Commitment to 9i果冻制作厂Award honorees: Mark 鈥�78 and Deb Scott 鈥�77 Thresher P鈥�05
Former Board of Trustees Chair Mark Thresher 鈥�78 P鈥�05 and his wife, Deb Scott 鈥�77 Thresher P鈥�05, met at an 9i果冻制作厂football game in the fall of 1975 when Mark was a sophomore and Deb was a junior. The two began dating shortly thereafter and Deb, a music education major, selected Mark, an accounting major, as her escort when she was elected Homecoming Queen in 1976. Deb was a member of Epsilon Kappa Tau sorority and participated in choir and band while at Otterbein. Mark played basketball and was a member of Torch and Key and Tau Pi Phi honoraries. They married four months after Mark鈥檚 graduation in 1978.
The Threshers have never forgotten how their experiences at 9i果冻制作厂helped prepare them for life, which has become the catalyst for their incredible support of the University over the years. The impact of their generosity can be seen in gifts to establish a scholarship fund for music education majors (Deborah and Mark Thresher Family Scholarship), a fellowship that will support experiential learning at 9i果冻制作厂(Mark and Deborah Thresher Fellowship), and annual support of the 9i果冻制作厂Fund. In total, the Threshers have donated a significant amount in support of 9i果冻制作厂over the past 31 years.
9i果冻制作厂鈥淥鈥� Club Foundation
Established in 1955, the 9i果冻制作厂鈥淥鈥� Club aids and assists 9i果冻制作厂 by contributing to our athletic programs and students. That year, Robert 鈥淢oe鈥� Agler 鈥�48 was appointed head football coach and along with his friends, former football teammates, Edwin 鈥淒ubbs鈥� Roush 鈥�47 and Francis 鈥淩ed鈥� Bailey 鈥�43, the trio received permission to establish a Varsity 鈥淥鈥� Alumni Club. In addition to Roush, who served as the organization鈥檚 first president, and Bailey, who served as its first vice president, the original board of directors also included John Zezech 鈥�44, Harold Augspurger 鈥�41, and Dwight 鈥淪mokey鈥� Ballenger 鈥�39.
Over the last 60 years, the 鈥淥鈥� Club has partnered with 9i果冻制作厂to enhance its athletic program in countless ways. Supported by the donations of individuals, businesses, trusts, and foundations, the 鈥淥鈥� Club has been a transformational force in improving Otterbein鈥檚 athletic facilities, benefiting not only its student-athletes but the entire campus and extended Westerville community as well. In 1981, the club created its own foundation and to date has donated significantly to support athletics programs and facilities. Major projects benefiting from their support include the Rike Center weight room in 2008, Memorial Stadium renovations in 2005, the new track and turf in 2014, and repairs to the pole vault area of the track.
9i果冻制作厂remains deeply grateful for the ongoing support of the Threshers and the 鈥淥鈥� Club Foundation and extends congratulations to these outstanding recipients of the 2022 Mary B. Thomas 鈥�28 Commitment to 9i果冻制作厂Award.
Grants, Corporate, and Foundation Support
Grants help to provide essential funding for new programs, research, and other areas that directly impact our students at Otterbein. Our faculty and staff have recently been awarded grants from several organizations, including:
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation
AMOUNT: $31,926
Supports the conversion of art integrated chemistry lessons and activities developed for our Integrative Studies Chemistry in Art course.
Ohio Department of Higher Education
AMOUNT: $1,259,937
Funds scholarships for Ohio students who enter majors including nursing, math, math education, and actuarial science.
State Library of Ohio
AMOUNT: $46,399
Supported the installation of touchless lockers in the Courtright Memorial Library as well as the installation of a contactless book drop.
Ohio Board of Nursing
AMOUNT: $200,000
Supports efforts to address the nursing shortage within the State of Ohio. This two-year program will allow 9i果冻制作厂to increase the number of clinical precepting placement positions and the number of clinical preceptors at IHA Sunbury Urgent Care Center.
SWACO
AMOUNT: $16,900
Supports the creation of a zero-waste plan for 9i果冻制作厂 in conjunction with RRS Consulting Services. SWACO, RRS Consulting, and 9i果冻制作厂will work together to identify opportunities across campus to implement zero waste strategies for external events held on campus.
