��ɫ����TV

During Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2024, ��ɫ����TV University honored seven outstanding alumni with Distinguished Alumni Awards for their professional success and service and loyalty to their alma mater.

2024 University Distinguished Alumni Award: Dr. Candada (Candi) Moore, BA ’78

Dr. Candada (Candi) Moore,��BA ’78, dedicated her long career in public finance, as well as her life outside of work, to strengthening communities. ��ɫ����TV University recognizes her exemplary professional career and her continued loyalty to ONU by awarding Candi the University Distinguished Alumni Award.

After graduating from ONU in 1978 with a dual major in psychology and business administration, Candi obtained her juris doctorate from the Ohio State University.

She then embarked on a 33-year career as a lawyer and banker in Ohio, the Midwest and New England, helping to structure transactions to finance noteworthy public and private projects.

A few of Moore’s significant projects included an Ohio Department of Development innovative borrowing program that aided small businesses in the state by providing low-interest loans, and JobsOhio financing, which enabled Ohio to lure technology and other manufacturers to the state. She also worked on financing for Jacob’s Field (now Progressive Field), and projects for the Cleveland Clinic and The Inn at ��ɫ����TV University.

Outside of work, Candi served on the village council and as vice mayor of Granville, Ohio. She volunteered with community nonprofits, including chairperson of the Licking Land Trust, focused on protecting greenspace and historic buildings from encroaching development.

At ONU, Moore served on the Board of Trustees and the Dicke College of Business Administration Advisory Board. Additionally, Candi and her husband, Dr. Steven Mershon, established the Moore Family Endowed Scholarship at ONU.��

2024 Alumni Service Award: Frederick “Fritz” Kucklick, BSME ’69

By every measure, ��ɫ����TV University’s College of Engineering is crushing it, from growing enrollment to outstanding student outcomes to a world-class facility.

Frederick “Fritz” Kucklick, BSME ’69, played a significant role in the College’s current success, leading to ONU honoring him with the��Alumni Service Award.

“The James Lehr Kennedy Engineering building standing tall today, filled with developing young engineers, is a testament to Fritz Kucklick’s service to ONU,” stated his nomination form.

Serving on both the College of Engineering Advisory Board and the ONU Board of Trustees, Fritz championed the new facility from start to finish—seeing its potential to transform engineering education. He touched every stage of the building’s development, from design to construction, planning to fundraising.

Fritz was the first member of his family to obtain a college education.

After graduation, he pursued his dream to become an entrepreneur and retire at age 50. He and a partner purchased a small tool-and-die shop and grew the business into Hess Industries, with 500 employees and $75 million in annual sales.

At age 51, Fritz sold his interests in Hess Industries and indeed retired. Not quite ready for a life of leisure, however, he embarked on a consulting career.

Throughout his busy life, Fritz shared his time, talent, and treasure to ensure ONU’s growth and success. He served on the ONU Board of Trustees from 2009-2023 and the College of Engineering Advisory Board from 2003-2022. He and his wife, Chris (Murdock) Kucklick, BA ’70, provided a lead gift for the engineering building and recently established two ONU endowed scholarships.

His nomination form stated: “In everything he does for the University, Fritz demonstrates service.”

Getty College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award: Katrina Thompson, BA ’05, JD ’08

Katrina Thompson, BA ’05, JD ’08, is passionate about lifting others up—whether that’s through the community development and affordable housing cases she tackles as a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, or her efforts to help others with diverse backgrounds succeed.

��ɫ����TV University is pleased to honor Katrina with the Getty College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of her exceptional professional contributions and her loyalty to ONU.

“Katrina personally believes in the work that she does,” stated her nomination form. “She is appreciated for the ways she brings efficiency and a practical, reasonable approach to problem solving when negotiating and closing deals."

Katrina received a B.A. in professional and organizational communication with minors in art and dance at ONU, where she was a Delta Zeta and a 4-year member and then captain of the Northern Stars Dance Team. She also received her J.D. degree from ONU, where she was valedictorian of her law class and managing editor of the ONU Law Review.

At Barnes & Thornburg, LLP in Columbus, Ohio, she focuses her practice on affordable housing and other real estate transactions involving various tax incentives including low-income housing, historic, solar, and new market tax credits. She is also a frequent speaker and panelist at tax credit conferences across the country.

A proud Brazilian-American female attorney, she gives back in a variety of ways, including serving on the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee at her Firm, and creating and co-chairing “BTLatinx,” a talent resource group formed to better support all of the Firm’s Hispanic/Latino/Latina talent.

She was a long-time board member and past president of Women Lawyers of Franklin County, and currently serves on the Ohio Housing Council Board of Trustees and is board chair of the Childhood League Center, a special needs early childhood education center in downtown Columbus.

She’s received numerous accolades for her efforts such as the Ohio State Bar Association’s District 7 also Statewide Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 & Under. She was also recognized as one of the Columbus Business First magazine’s 40 Under 40 in 2019, and was a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow in 2020.

Her volunteerism extends to her alma mater where Katrina is currently serving on the Board of Trustees and where she’s a past member of the Pettit College of Law Advisory Board.

Professionally and personally, David Haushalter, BSBA ’92, stands out for his integrity and achievements.

Dicke College of Business Administration Distinguished Alumni Award:��David Haushalter, BSBA ’92

Professionally and personally, David Haushalter, BSBA ’92, stands out for his integrity and achievements.

��ɫ����TV University is pleased to honor David with the Dicke College of Business Administration Distinguished Alumni Award for his exceptional career and loyalty to ONU.

“David’s career is one of distinction,” stated his nomination form. “He is a strategic leader who puts words into action.”

In addition to obtaining an accounting degree from ONU, David met his wife, Nikki (Bennett) Haushalter, BSPh’92, PharmD ’97, on campus. The couple credit ONU for enabling them to achieve meaningful lives and careers.

David is a successful entrepreneur and businessman in Kenton, Ohio. He’s chairman of the board and VP of Sales for Robinson Fin Machines, which produces and sells highly-engineered products in markets such as aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, and industrial. Working with people from across the globe, David collaborates on projects ranging from submarines, to the space station, to manned missions to the moon and Mars.

Outside of work, David elevates his community and his alma mater through volunteerism and generosity. He’s served on numerous local boards, including the Hardin County Airport Authority, Kenton School Board, Kenton Lions Club, and Hardin County Economic Development Club.

At ONU, he serves on the Board of Trustees and he’s a longtime member of the Dicke College of Business Administration Advisory Board. He’s spoken to numerous accounting classes, and he and Nikki recently financed a high-impact learning space in Dicke Hall—the Haushalter Finance Lab.

2024 Pettit College of Law Distinguished Alumni Award:��James “Jim” Pry, II, JD ’70

James “Jim” Pry, II, JD ’70, believes in leaving the world a little better than he found it. Throughout his long career as an attorney and community member in Bucyrus, Ohio, he’s worked toward that end.

��ɫ����TV University is pleased to award Jim the Pettit College of Law Distinguished Alumni Award for his exemplary professional contributions and his loyalty to his alma mater.

Jim received his J.D. from ONU in 1970, began practicing law in Bucyrus in 1973, and passed the CPA in 1974.

A partner in the firm Sears, Pry, Griebling & McBride, he specializes in real estate, business, tax, corporate, probate, trust, and banking transactions. He also started two real estate title agencies in Bucyrus and Marion, Ohio.

A passionate conservationist, Jim and his family steward 125 acres of woodland and 100 acres of crop land in Crawford County. In the past 50 years, he’s planted more than 40,000 trees and created a one-half mile riparian buffer zone on both sides of the head waters of the Sandusky River in Crawford County. Due to this effort, the water flowing through his family’s land is some of the purest in the county.

Additionally, Jim and his wife, Janet, are world travelers, having explored more than 100 countries and seven continents.

A huge advocate for higher education, Jim has supported multiple universities for over 50 years, serving as a trustee, university counsel, and volunteer. At ONU, he served on the Law Alumni Board and has been involved in special projects. He and Janet are also life members of the Henry Solomon Lehr Society.

2024 Raabe College of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumni Award: Dr. John Michael “Mike” Hoopes, BSPh ’70

Throughout his life, Dr. John Michael “Mike” Hoopes, BSPh ’70, has served others as his faith called him to do. His work in pharmacy and in education has improved the lives of countless individuals.

In recognition of Mike’s innumerable contributions to his profession and his alma mater, ��ɫ����TV University is awarding him the Raabe College of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumni Award.

“After marrying his college sweetheart and having three children, Mike understood that ‘every good and perfect gift’ comes from the Lord, and he learned to apply this while serving in his profession and in daily life,” stated his nomination form. “He is a man of the highest integrity, and is trustworthy and true to his word.”

Mike received his B.S. in pharmacy from ONU and his PharmD from Duquesne University. He spent his early career as a faculty member and researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Pharmacy.

He then transitioned to the business side of pharmacy, becoming a leader and visionary in the industry. Prior to retirement in 2016, he was director of medical information at AstraZeneca/MedImmune.

In the course of his career, Mike authored or co-authored over two dozen papers on topics ranging from original research, review articles, disease management, drug adverse events, and clinical pharmacy practice.

In his retirement Mike became involved in the OneLife Africa ministry that supports at-risk youth in Kenya with education, mentoring, and sponsorship.

Mike is an active ONU alumni, attending events and supporting ONU financially. He and his wife, Janet (Ward) Hoopes, BSPh ’70, are excellent ONU ambassadors.

2024 T.J. Smull College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award: Dave Heppner, BSEE ’88

A proven leader, Dave Heppner, BSEE ’88, has steadfastly advanced his career at Marathon Petroleum. As chief strategy officer and senior vice president of business development, he is committed to the success of his company and his community.

In recognition of his exemplary professionalism and his service to his alma mater, ��ɫ����TV University honored Dave with the T.J. Smull College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award.

“Dave pours his full energy into the success of Marathon,” stated his nomination form. “That tenacity and commitment to a job well done is a trait refined and practiced as a student at ��ɫ����TV.”

After receiving his electrical engineering degree at ONU, Dave joined Marathon as a design engineer. Over the course of the next 30+ years, he took on roles with increasing leadership responsibility at Marathon and its business subsidiaries, including Emro Marketing Company, which later became Speedway LLC.��

Outside of his career, Dave has served his community in a variety of ways, including vice president of Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County; president of the board of trustees for the United Way of Clark, Champaign, and Madison Counties; vice president of members for the Boy Scouts of America, Black Swamp Council; and campaign chairman for the Clark County March of Dimes. He’s also been involved with the Children’s Miracle Network and the Dayton Children’s Hospital Foundation.

At ONU, Dave is a member of the Board of Trustees. He’s served on a variety of committees for the College of Engineering, gave the Spotts Lecture in 2018, and frequently talks with students about the career opportunities in the oil and gas industry. He is also a member of the Henry Solomon Lehr Society at ONU.