McKendree University to Honor Outstanding Alumni During Homecoming Awards Ceremony Oct. 11

Accolades to include the Peter Akers Award, Loyal Service, Academy of Excellence, Rising Stars

(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 2, 2024) – McKendree University will honor several of its accomplished alumni at its annual award ceremony on Friday, Oct. 11 at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on campus. Chosen by the alumni board, the 2024 awardees have made their mark in their professions, communities and at their alma mater.

This year’s winners include the following:

Peter Akers Award
Kent Marty of Edwardsville, Ill., will receive the highest alumni honor, the Peter Akers Award, this year. This award acknowledges professional success, outstanding service and loyalty. Marty graduated from McKendree in 1980, earning a degree in business administration with a marketing emphasis. At the university, he was a member of the men’s baseball team. Upon graduation, he accepted the position of admissions counselor at the request of former Director of Admissions Dan Baker. Marty then went on to earn his master’s degree in business administration from Lindenwood University.

Marty retired three years ago from a 41-year-long career in the business world. He began his business career at the Electronics and Space Division of Emerson Electric Company in the contracts department, rising to the role of assistant to the president and group vice president of the Emerson Government and Defense Group. He later worked in increased management roles for ESCO Technologies LLC, Aclara Technologies and Hubbell Utility Systems. Nearly 30 years of Marty’s 41-year business career was focused in growing the international business segments for the companies for whom he worked.

Marty is a member of the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame committee and the McKendree Board of Trustees. He is also a past member of the McKendree Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee, the National Contract Management Association, Security Affairs Association and the American Society of Industrial Security. He is also a past winner of the McKendree University Loyal Service Award and was selected by Emerson to participate in the Leadership St. Louis program.

Marty is married to his wife, Gina, and has two daughters, Ellen Bell and Mary Marty; one son-in-law, Sam Bell; and two grandchildren, Nara Bell and Marley Bell. His hobbies include golfing and spending time with his family.

Loyal Service Award
George Obernagel III of Waterloo, Ill., will receive this year’s Loyal Service Award. He graduated from McKendree in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in business and accounting. At McKendree, Obernagel participated in business and fraternity organizations. Following graduation, he went on to complete graduate trust school at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

Obernagel is a businessman and entrepreneur. He owns Obernagel Farms & Real Estate, The Republic Times newspaper in Waterloo, and numerous real estate ventures, microbreweries, restaurants and other businesses. He is also the partial owner of Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners and was the vice president, trust officer and farm manager for both West Pointe Bank and Trust Company and Union Planters Bank in Belleville.

Obernagel is a board member for Saint Louis University SSM Hospital, a board chairman for McKendree, a vice chairman for Red Bud Regional Hospital, a chairman for Southern Illinois Power Company, a consistory for St. John United Church of Christ in Valmeyer, Ill., and a member of several committees and organizations. He is also the past recipient of the University of Illinois Friend of ACES Award, the Honorary Valmeyer Alumni Award, the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award and the Honorary Chapter FFA Degree for both Valmeyer and Waterloo FFA chapters, among others. He continues to serve McKendree as a chairman for the Board of Trustees and is actively involved in and supports athletic and school activities.

Academy of Excellence
Four alumni will enter the university’s Academy of Excellence for achievement, leadership and character in the following categories: social sciences, business, nursing and health professions, and community service. Honorees have made exceptional contributions to the honor and prestige of the university and have demonstrated the values imparted by a liberal arts education in their professions or chosen fields.

Social Sciences
Sheree A. Davis of Belleville, Ill., graduated from McKendree in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology – criminal justice. As a student, she served on the Campus Activities Board, participated in the Black Student Organization, and was a member of the McKendree cheerleading team. She also traveled to Jamaica for the university’s service trip to help build houses with Food for the Poor. After graduation, she went on to earn her master’s degree in sociology – criminal justice from Saint Louis University and her juris doctor degree from Saint Louis University’s School of Law.

Davis is the associate attorney at Sandifer and Associates Attorneys at Law LLC. Over the years, she has garnered extensive experience as an associate attorney and is licensed to practice law in both Illinois and Missouri. In addition to her legal practice, she has been actively engaged in teaching and mentorship, serving as an adjunct professor at Webster University and as a mentor and assistant mock trial coach for the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at Saint Louis University’s School of Law. Additionally, she serves on the board of Project Compassion NFP, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering low-income and homeless individuals. She also cofounded The Pratcher-Davis Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to helping low-income students thrive in their pursuit of higher education.

A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Davis has been recognized with several notable awards, including being named to the National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 in Illinois for 2022 to 2024. During law school, she received several accolades, including the SLU Law Mock Trial Excellence Award, among others. At McKendree, Davis has been interviewed multiple times regarding updates and programming at the university, and she has spoken to current students and shared her professional experience and guidance to those pursuing similar career paths.

Davis has one son, Darren, and serves on the worship and storytelling team at Living the Word Church in Collinsville, Ill. In her free time, Davis enjoys traveling, writing poetry, having game nights with friends and family, and cheering for her son at his sporting events.

Business
Major General John J. Bartrum of Arlington, Va., graduated from McKendree in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. After graduation, he went on to receive several other degrees, including a master’s degree in business administration from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and a juris doctor degree from George Mason University School of Law in Arlington.

Bartrum is the mobilization assistant to the surgeon general of the Air Force and Space Force and is also the CEO of Brightstar Innovations Group, LLC in Arlington. Prior to founding his company, he was a partner in Squire Patton Boggs, one of the top five law firms in the world. He has more than 40 years of federal appropriations, healthcare, life science, defense, veterans and leadership experience.

Bartrum is also a Capitol Hill veteran, retired federal Senior Executive Service career official and a Fellow in the National Academy of Public Administration. In his Air Force position, he provides leadership within the Air Force medical service operations. A combat veteran and the senior Air Force Reserve Medical and Medical Service Corps officer, he has also served in all branches of the government and as a senior professional staff member for both parties in the House of Representatives Appropriates Committee.

Last year, Bartrum spoke at McKendree as part of the university’s annual Wayne E. Lanter Lecture Series, sharing his expertise in federal government policy, problem solving, government strategic growth and executive leadership.

Bartrum is married to his wife, Elizabeth, and has twin daughters, Sophia and Olivia.

Nursing and Health Professions
Dr. Kristin Yosanovich of Christopher, Ill., graduated from McKendree with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2001 and later with a doctorate degree in nursing practice in 2020. At McKendree, she was a member of Sigma Theta Tau and has been in the Psi Epsilon Chapter from 1999 to present day. She also holds a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Southern Indiana.

Currently, Yosanovich serves as dean of health sciences and the director of nursing at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill. She previously served as an assistant professor in John A. Logan College’s nursing department and as an associate professor at Rend Lake College. She has received several honors, including the Employee of the Month at Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) as a staff RN in the intensive care unit, and she received a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) credential during her doctorate educational endeavors at McKendree, in which she continues to serve as a member of the McKendree University Nursing Advisory Committee.

Yosanovich has volunteered for several Christopher Area Betterment Associations (CABA) on several committees including the Franklin Williamson Bi-County COVID-19 vaccine initiative, and Momma Cat events in her community. She is also a current member of the American Nurses Association, the Illinois Nurses Association, and the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN).

Yosanovich is married to her husband, Matt, and has two children, Cameron Yosanovich and Sydney Yosanovich; and three grandchildren, John Matthew and twins Logan and Lyla. She enjoys boating on Kentucky Lake during the summer, gardening and shopping.

Community Service
Facundo Oyenard of St. Louis, Mo., graduated from McKendree in 2003 with a degree in finance. As a student, he was a member of the men’s golf team for four years and was the Most Valuable Player for three of those four years. After graduation, he went on to earn his master’s degree in business administration from Webster University in 2014.

A native of Argentina, Oyenard is an insurance broker and owner of Azteca Insurance Brokers. He previously served as a financial analyst at Monsanto and Bayer, a financial advisor at Renaissance Financial Services, and a purchasing assistant at Goedecke Construction Company. He recently won the Hispanic Emerging Business of the Year award in 2023.

Oyenard has been involved within his Hispanic community since graduating McKendree. Within the community, he and his wife help high school students graduate with scholarships and mentoring. They have also helped new families get established in St. Louis and have mentored small business owners as well. Oyenard is also a board member for First Tee of Greater St. Louis, NinePBS, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Midwest Bankcentre, and he volunteers for Crisis Nursery and Joe’s Place in St. Louis.

Oyenard met his wife, Aimee, before graduating from McKendree and married her in 2006. They have two daughters, Soledad and Maia. He enjoys staying active by either exercising, running around with his daughters, traveling, or playing weekly golf with his 15-year-old daughter.

Rising Stars
Rising Stars are McKendree graduates of the past decade who have made significant achievements in their professions or chosen fields, and who have been highly involved with the university or their communities.

Lauren Carro of New Palestine, Ind., graduated from McKendree in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management and marketing. As a student, she was a member of the women’s tennis team, a campus tour guide, a member of the Tri Sigma sorority, a contributor to the McKendree magazine, and an athletics sports information writer. She later went on to earn her master’s degree in business administration from McKendree in 2021.

Currently, Carro serves as the director of guest experience for Pacers Sports and Entertainment in Indianapolis. She previously served in several managerial positions for the St. Louis Blues. She also has been serving McKendree as an adjunct professor in sport marketing since 2022. Additionally, she is a member of the Board of Directors for MindsEye Radio and the Disney Leadership Institute.

Carro is married to her husband, Moises, and has one daughter, Rosalee Carro. She enjoys working out, gardening, and traveling.

Madison Dauch of Sparks, Nev., graduated from McKendree in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. As a student, she was crowned homecoming queen and was a member of the women’s lacrosse team and Sigma Sigma Sigma,

Dauch currently serves as the technical program manager for Tesla, where she previously served as the associate production manager and production supervisor. She was also an industrial engineer intern, production supervisor intern, aftermarket sales intern, and materials engineering intern for American Axle & Manufacturing. As a young woman in leadership in manufacturing, she is giving a voice to women leaders, who represent a small margin in the industry.

Rob Watkins of Austin, Texas, graduated from McKendree in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. As a student, he was a member of the men’s volleyball team, the president of the Student Government Association, a New Student Orientation leader and resident assistant, and was the founding president of the National Society of Leadership and Success. He was also a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma, the IT Special Projects team, the Collegiate Cyber Defense team, and the marketing club. He later graduated from the university in 2020 with a master’s degree in business administration.

Currently, Watkins serves as the senior manager of CX operations and enablement for Ontic, in which he previously served as a product coach and client success manager. He is very early in his career at a rapidly-growing SaaS startup in Austin where they develop software to keep people safe and help strengthen organizations. Being early at this company has given him the ability to try his hand at many different positions throughout the company, now landing him at his current position. He also served as a graduate intern to the president of McKendree University.

The McKendree University Alumni Association seeks and accepts nominations of worthy alumni throughout the year for the annual Alumni Awards. Please visit www.mckendree.edu/alumniawards to learn more or submit a nomination.

 

-McK-