Franklin University Alumni Awards

Franklin University Alumni Awards – Recognizing Alumni Achievements

The Franklin University Alumni Awards have been established to recognize the many achievements of Franklin University alumni, both professionally and personally. 

With one category awarded each term, winners will be recognized during corresponding commencement ceremonies.

The Awards consist of three (3) categories Franklin University Alumni Award for Professional Excellence, Franklin University Alumni of the Year Award, and Franklin University Alumni Award for Social Impact, and are open to Franklin University alumni. The Franklin University Alumni Advisory Council will consider nominations and applications and will make its recommendations to the University’s president for approval. 

Alumni of the Year Award

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The Alumni of the Year award will be awarded to an outstanding alumnus who has given time, talent or treasure to the University in an elevated way; and who makes an impact on current students.

Matina and Zenios Zenios

"Matina and Zenios Zenios are recognized as the Franklin University Alumni of the Year in recognition of their outstanding contributions to both the university and the broader community. Matina is the President and second-generation Owner of her family business, Artina Promotional Products that was founded in 1967. She also co-founded The Artina Choose Kind Foundation in 2019, which is the charitable side of the business that provides grants to local nonprofits that help to lessen the suffering and give strength and hope to those in need. Zenios is the President and Owner of 3 Piller Homes. Now in its 25th year, 3 Piller homes has been honored as central Ohio’s #1 custom homebuilder. 3 Piller homes is named after the important values Zenios learned from his father: Honor, Quality, and Design. "

Alumni Award for Social Impact

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The Alumni Award for Social Impact will be awarded to an outstanding alumnus who demonstrates the positive impact they have had on a/the community through their work in social innovation within the profit, non-profit or public sector; or who demonstrates a significant, long-term impact of their contribution to the Community and University. Evidence of impact may include but is not limited to a demonstrated positive impact on a community arising from social innovation; including, but not limited to; social enterprise, corporate social responsibility, volunteerism, and community development, and verification of enduring and positive outcomes for the community and University.

Norman Nixon

"Norman is a student success specialist for the Community College Preparatory Academy Public Charter School. He has worked as a training facilitator for the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Teen Program Office. Before his current role, Nixon served as the Youth constituent services coordinator for the Office of the Mayor under former Mayor Marion Barry Jr. He also worked with the Washington, D.C. Department of Employment Services as an acting associate director, supervisory manpower development specialist for 26 years and formally served as the director of the Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute. He holds the honor of being the youngest person to hold an elected office in Washington, D.C. history when he was elected at the age of 18 by voters as a delegate to the DC Statehood Constitutional Convention in 1981. "

Alumni Award for Professional Excellence

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The Alumni Award for Professional Excellence will be awarded to an outstanding alumnus who has achieved sustained success throughout their career that is noteworthy and exceptional, demonstrated sustained contribution to their profession at local, national and international levels, and raised their profile and standing within their community, country, or internationally and bring greater recognition to their profession.

Dori Dils

"Dorrie Dils was named president and CEO of Gift of Life Michigan in 2016. As the leader of the nation’s 11th-largest organ and tissue program, Dils oversees a staff of more than 400 professionals who work statewide to help fulfill the decisions of organ and tissue donors and their families. In June of this year, Dils became the president of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, which represents 48 of the nation’s 56 organ donor programs. In that role, she will work on national issues that impact organ donation to increase donation and save the lives of the more than 100,000 people waiting for an organ transplant."

Previous Winners

Inaugural Winner - Alumni Award for Social Impact

Brandon Curry

Inaugural Winner - Alumni Award for Professional Excellence

Matthew W. McCrystal

Inaugural Alumni of the Year Award Winner

Philip Fankhauser

Alumni of the Year Award Winner

Robert Coles

Alumni of the Year Award Winner

Misti Norman

Alumni Award for Social Impact

Dr. Bryanna Stigger

Alumni Award for Professional Excellence

Thomas Wolf