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.

Alumni of the year 2023 Award Winner

Robert Coles

"Robert Coles is an award-winning creative professional with over 20 years of design and marketing experience. Currently, Robert serves as senior director of creative and digital services at Stanford University. In his role, he oversees Residential & Dining Enterprises brand management, an area consisting of a $3 billion asset portfolio. Robert sits on the Provost’s IDEAL Staff Advisory Committee, which seeks to enhance staff experience related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). He also is a co-founder of the Stanford Black Male Wellness Group, and strategic advisor to Stanford’s Black Coalition. In 2022, he served as a mentor and visiting presenter during Stanford’s Medical Humanities Summer Scholars Program."

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.

Alumni Award for Social Impact

Dr. Bryanna Stigger

"Bryanna earned her bachelor’s degree through Franklin’s 3+1 partnership with COTC and ultimately completed her master’s at Franklin as well. She also recently completed her doctorate at The Ohio State University. Bryanna is the program manager for Inclusive Excellence in the College of Engineering at Ohio State, where she manages diversity education programs and professional development workshops to advance the diversity and inclusion mission and vision of the college. Bryanna is also a certified professional life coach, and CEO and founder of her own coaching and consulting business, Bry Inspired."

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.

Alumni Awards - Alumni Award for Professional Excellence Section

Matthew W. McCrystal

"Matthew W. McCrystal currently serves as the planning training and exercise branch chief at the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Emergency Management Agency. In this role, Matthew is responsible for the development and maintenance of the state’s emergency operations plan, the administration of emergency management and homeland security trainings offered throughout the state, as well as the development and execution of state-level exercises. In this capacity, he also has a direct role in the planning efforts and exercise design process for a multitude of all-hazards scenarios including but not limited to: coordinated terrorist attacks, active shooter incidents, bomb threats, bioterrorism and emergency operation center activations"

Previous Winners

Inaugural Alumni of the year 2022 Award Winner

Philip Fankhauser

Inaugural Winner - Alumni Award for Social Impact

Brandon Curry