Rhodes State College is currently accepting nominations for its Outstanding Alumni Award. Nominations may be submitted by anyone, and there is no limit to the number of nominations an individual may make. The Outstanding Alumni Award has been presented annually since 1988 to an alumnus of Rhodes State College or Lima Technical College who has distinguished him/herself both professionally and through community service activities. These accomplishments may emphasize professional, social or educational values. Past recipients represent a wide variety of area citizenship, leadership and professional excellence. The deadline for nominations is March 22, 2013. Please go to http://www.rhodesstate.edu/AlumniNomination to submit a nomination.

Rhodes State Honors Distinguished Alumnus

Douglass Degen is the 2012 Rhodes State College Outstanding Alumni Award Winner.

Mr. Degen received his Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Lima Technical College in 1987. He received a Bachelor in Science Civil Engineering degree from Ohio Northern University, and went on to earn his Masters of Science Environmental Health and Safety Management from the University of Findlay.

Mr. Degen began his career as an engineer in the city of Lima and Allen County in 1985 and is still serving our community today, 27 years later as a Civil and drainage/bridge Engineer. Mr. Degen uses his education and knowledge to help teach and guide the current student bodies, by serving first as an adjunct engineering professor at Rhodes State in 1997, and for the last 13 years as an adjunct instructor at Ohio Northern University. Mr. Degen says that he firmly believes it is his responsibility to assist students in any way possible. He is very involved in National Engineers Week every March to allow him to “provide an outreach platform to help promote higher education in our youth, the future generation of engineers.”

He has been the keynote speaker and presenter at Rhodes State GIS Day for four years and has written numerous professional publications and technical reports in his industry. He was in the Epison Pi Tau Technology Honor Society, Alpha PI National Honor Society and previous Rhodes State Outstanding Alumnus nominee in 1997.

He has served as President and Vice President of the Toledo ASCE as well as involvement in various professional boards, and volunteer activities in the community of West Central Ohio including Optimists Youth in Government, Elida Youth Soccer Association, Ottawa River Coalition, Elida Safe Route to School, Elida High School Mentor Program, US Soccer Federation Referee, and other engineering/career presentations to youth groups.

Mr. Degen says that much of his success and accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible without the personal commitment of the faculty and staff of Lima Technical College (Rhodes State) which provided him many of the opportunities he enjoys today, and the education provided him an excellent starting point in his career.

As this year’s honoree, a $500 scholarship will be awarded in his name to a Mechanical Engineering student for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Past Outstanding Alumni Recipients