These honors are bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership. This year, six alumni have been welcomed into this esteemed circle of Bears who go above and beyond.

Joy O’Grady, Ph.D., ’94 
Alumni Award for Professional Achievement

A licensed clinical psychologist with a specialization in neuropsychology, O’Grady has worked with all ages, assessing and treating patients with a wide variety of neuropsychological problems. She has furthered the knowledge of her field through extensive research and now works primarily with adults and seniors at her current practice in Richmond, Va.
Profile and Q&A

Michael Mangan ’70
Henry P. and M. Page Laughlin Educator Award

Mangan is the adapted physical education coordinator for the entire Okaloosa County (Florida) School District and won the Special Olympics Volunteer of the Year award in Okaloosa County twice before being inducted into its hall of fame in 2004. He has earned two adapted physical education teacher of the year awards.  Profile and Q&A

Christian Rice, Th.D, ’98
Alumni Award for Service to Humanity

Rice is an assistant professor of philosophy and the humanities, assistant dean for civic engagement and director of the Harold C. Smith Program in Christian Studies at Ursinus. For over a decade, Rice has devoted countless hours to student recruitment, orientation and service trips, helping the Bonner program, UCARE, and its students flourish.
Profile and Q&A

Jennifer Thompkins ’09
The Rising Star Alumni Award

Thompkins is a mentor and devoted advocate for young adults, working at both the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA and the World Alliance of YMCAs in Geneva, Switzerland. She is now director of programs for a company that actively develops the workforce of the Philadelphia area through training and educational programming. Profile and Q&A

Senior Alumni Award
Erin Saybolt ’20

Saybolt was a standout member of the field hockey team; a biology student instructor; a pharmaceutical market research intern; and a biology research assistant. She plans to work on science policy with an ethics focus and hopes to pursue a master’s degree in policy and a juris doctorate. 

Profile and Q&A

Min Son ’20
Senior Alumni Award

A fellow of the Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good and the Melrose Center for Global Civic Engagement, Son attended multiple medical leadership conferences across the country and created an education outreach program teaching students in underprivileged communities about public health.

Profile and Q&A