Alumni Award Recipients
Dan Lett ’91 | 2023 Peter Akers Award Recipient
Dan earned a degree in business administration and was involved in the Pi Lambda Tau fraternity and the soccer team at McKendree. After graduating, he went on to earn his law degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1994 and an executive master’s degree in international business from Saint Louis University in 2004.
A resident of St. Louis, Mo., Dan has been the executive vice president for corporate development and general counsel at Bunzl Distribution since 1998. He has also served as the Board of Governors’ president at the Missouri Athletic Club and has been an essential member of the Board of Trustees at McKendree University since 1999. A member of the William McKendree Society, Dan has served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, having been its president from 1999 to 2003. He was also inducted into McKendree’s Academy of Excellence in 2010 and received its Loyal Service Award in 2003.
Recently, Dan was honored during McKendree’s commencement with a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree for his service, insight, leadership, philanthropic support, and commitment to his alma mater as its outgoing Board of Trustees chairman.
Jim Forler ’65 | 2023 Loyal Service Award Recipient
Jim graduated from McKendree with a bachelor’s degree in English. He was the editor of The McKendree Review, the president of the Student Education Association, and a member of Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society, Student Government, and the men’s tennis team. He went on to earn his Master of Secondary Education degree from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville.
A resident of Belleville, Ill., Jim was an English and reading teacher for Mascoutah Junior High, Belleville School District #118, West Junior High School, and Central Junior High School. He was also drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968, serving for two years. Additionally, he has coached track and soccer and won Coach of the Year in 1992 and Teacher of the Year in 1993. Jim has served McKendree in several capacities, including being a member, vice president, and president of the Alumni Association Board and serving as a member of the Board of Directors. He is a member of the Bearcat Booster Club, the William McKendree Society, and a retired assistant tennis coach. He also volunteers his time for McKendree’s men’s and women’s tennis teams regularly.
Rising Star Awardees
These graduates of the past decade have made significant achievements in their professions or chosen fields and have been highly involved with the University or their communities.
Scott Armistead ’16
Scott earned a degree in athletic training, volunteered for Stray Rescue of St. Louis, and was a member of the Iota Tau Alpha athletic training honor society and the men’s soccer team. He later obtained a master’s degree in exercise wellness and sport performance from Arizona State University in 2020.
A resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, Scott is currently the assistant athletic trainer for FC Cincinnati, a major league soccer team. He also serves as a consultant for various professional soccer players and former athletes around the world on programming and rehabilitation plans. He coaches for local goalkeeping clinics and camps run by FC Cincinnati’s director of goalkeeping and also coaches individual high school players from around the greater Cincinnati area. Scott continues to serve McKendree by being a preceptor for students in the athletic training program and also as a guest lecturer for the athletic training curriculum.
Lauren Cook ’16
Lauren graduated with degrees in English literature and sociology emphasizing in criminal justice. At McKendree, she was a student ambassador, a resident assistant, and a phonathon caller. She was also a member of Campus Activities Board, the Literary Interest Society, New Student Orientation, the McKendree Gospel Choir, Black Student Organization, First Generation Student Success, the Advanced Leaders Program, and the Senior Class Gift Committee. Lauren volunteered at the Christian Activity Center through the Lyn Huxford Center for Community Service and was a member of Sigma Tau Delta, Pi Gamma Mu, and Alpha Kappa Delta honor societies.
A resident of Maplewood, Minn., Lauren is the senior internal auditor with The Bank of Elk River in Elk River, Minn. In addition, she serves as a robotics coach for the Minnesota Stem Partnership and is involved with the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.
Madelaine Zinser ’17
Madelaine graduated with a degree in computational science and was the president of the Association for Computing Machinery, a STEM tutor, and a member of the competitive dance team. She also belonged to Upsilon Pi Epsilon, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Zeta honor societies. She later earned her master’s degree in computational science from Johns Hopkins University. While there, she received the best presentation award for her paper titled “Impact of Similarity Ratings on Human Judgement” at the International Conference on Semantics-Enabled Recommender Systems and Applications.
A resident of Vienna, Va., Madelaine is the lead scientist for Booz Allen Hamilton’s AI research and development group. She researches artificial intelligence, large language models, and big data solutions. Madelaine also volunteers and fosters at Wolf Trap Animal Rescue in northern Virginia.
Academy of Excellence
Inductees have made exceptional contributions to the honor and prestige of the University through their achievements, leadership and character, and have demonstrated the values of a liberal arts education in their professions or chosen fields.
Courtney Logan, Esq. ’08 | Humanities
Courtney graduated with two degrees, communications and philosophy, at McKendree. He was a student ambassador and was involved in Black Student Organization, the debate team, and Model United Nations.
He later earned his law degree from Saint Louis University’s School of Law in 2012. A resident of Swansea, Ill., Courtney is the general counsel and vice president of government relations at Blue Line & Associates in Chattanooga, Tenn. He was previously the city manager and chief operating officer for the City of East Saint Louis. Courtney has also served as an adjunct professor of law for Saint Louis University’s School of Law since 2012 and coaches a high school debate team through Kappa Alpha Psi’s Guide Right Program. He is also a past recipient of McKendree’s Rising Star award and McKendree’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award.
Elizabeth (Hise) Brennan ’04
Elizabeth graduated with a degree in English, was the co-editor for The McKendree Review, and was a member of Kappa Sigma Tau, the color guard, the marching band, and The Montage. She went on to earn a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Fontbonne University in 2015. A resident of St. Louis, Mo., Elizabeth currently serves as the director of communications at Greater St. Louis, Inc. She was previously the director of communications and marketing for Fontbonne University, the channel and public relations manager for Hughes in St. Louis, and the editor of Taste Magazine. She was recently named to Focus St. Louis’ Women in Leadership cohort. Elizabeth has also served as the managing chair for Art in the Park and is a member and previous faculty advisor for Omicron Delta Kappa.
Andrew Johnson ’99, M.A.Ed. ’09
Andrew graduated with a bachelor’s degree in K-12 physical education and health and spent three years on the McKendree men’s baseball team and two years as a resident assistant. He later returned to earn his master’s degree in educational leadership and administration in 2009 and went on to earn his superintendent certification from Eastern Illinois University in 2014. A resident of Effingham, Ill., Andrew is the superintendent at Effingham School District #40. He has previously served as the superintendent at Jasper County School District #1 in Newton, Ill., and as the district athletic director and high school assistant principal at Teutopolis High School. Andrew was also a teacher, coach, and athletic director at Marissa Jr./Sr. High School District #40. He has been a member of the Jasper County Rotary Club for six years.
Scott Brennan ’96
Scott graduated with a degree in mathematics and was a member of the McKendree men’s basketball team. He held a career record of 105-32 between 1992 and 1996, along with two national tournament appearances and ranking third in the nation in three-point percentages in 1995. He won the All-American Scholar Athlete award in 1996 and was also the president of the Phi Rho Chi fraternity. A resident of Plainfield, Ill., Scott became partner at Sikich, a top technology firm in Chicago. He then opened the Sikich St. Louis office in 2005 and became a Microsoft Inner Circle Member. Scott is also a board member for the Microsoft Partner Advisory Board, the president of the Microsoft Directions Partner Conference, and is on the leadership committee for Microsoft Directions EMEA.
Sports Hall of Fame
Inductees are athletes, former coaches, alumni coaches or sports professionals who, through leadership and character, have made exceptional contributions to the honor and prestige of McKendree in the field of athletics.
Robert “Bob” Karnes ’66
Bob graduated with a degree in physical education and played baseball and basketball for the Bearcats for three years, receiving varsity letters in each. He later earned a master’s degree from Murray State University in 1970. A resident of Du Quoin, Ill., Bob recorded a 136-59 record as the head football coach at Du Quoin High School from 1968-1987.
He had 17 winning seasons and qualified for IHSA quarterfinals four times. He was named to the Du Quoin District No. 300 Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016, the Southern Illinois Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1988. Additionally, Bob was named the Illinois Coaches Association Football Coach of the Year 3A from 1986-1987 and from 1987-1988.
Arela Williams ’18
Arela graduated with a degree in exercise science and sport performance. As a student, she was a member of the women’s volleyball team and earned AVCA All-American honors twice and AVCA All-Midwest Region honors three times. She was named the 2015 GLVC Player of the Year and the GLVC Fall Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2015 and 2016.
She is also the Bearcats’ all-time program leader in kills at 1,887. She later earned a master’s in strength and conditioning at the University of East London in 2019.
The San Diego, Calif., native is an enrollment advisor at Pearson and co-founded Sharp Training Performance in London. She was able to mentor other Black female youth athletes on a one-on-one basis, and held a group wellbeing mentorship for athletes online during the pandemic.
Darren “Dee” Wynn ’17
Dee graduated with a degree in psychology from McKendree and later earned a master’s degree in positive psychology from Life University 2019. As a Bearcat, Dee was a member of the men’s wrestling team and was a four-time All-American and three-time NCAA finalist. He was the 2016 NCAA Division II 141-pound national champion and recorded an overall record of 158-40. He is also second in school history in falls (41) and seventh in win percentage (.798).
A native of Champaign, Ill., Dee is the men’s and women’s wrestling assistant coach for Lindenwood University. He also served as the assistant men’s and women’s wrestling coach at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa and provided free wrestling and life coaching for the youth in the surrounding area. In just two seasons at the college, he helped lead the Warriors to two women’s wrestling national titles.
The 1999-2000 Men's Baseball Team
Led by Head Coach Jim Boehne, this team held a school record of 55-10 and an American Midwest Conference record of 18-2. They were the AMC champions during the regular season and were named the top seed in the NAIA Region V tournament. The team earned three NAIA All-Americans and nine first-team All-Conference selections, finishing the season ranked No. 13 in NAIA rankings. They set the school record for home runs in a season at 93, which stood for 20 years.
