Fairmount College Hall of Fame inductees
Induction into the Fairmount College Hall of Fame is the highest recognition of outstanding alumni who have had a significant impact on the region, nation and world. Follow the links to learn more about each inductee's life and career.
2024
Gary Bender, Mona Nemer and M. Lee Pelton exemplify the merits and advantages of a liberal arts and sciences education and will be inducted into the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame at 2 p.m, Feb. 6, 2024 in Wiedemann Hall. The event is open to the public.
2023
Elvira J. Valenzuela Crocker, 1961, BA-Journalism and English literature. Crocker is a leader, communicator and feminist. Over her career Crocker has served as president of the Mexican American National Women’s Association, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education, and the director of communications for the Hispanic and Latino communities advocacy group, National Council of La Raza (now UnidosUS).
Louis E. Sturns, 1971, BA-Political Science. Sturns has served as the first African American Criminal District Court Judge in Tarrant County, Texas; the first African American on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state’s highest court for criminal cases; and the first African American president of the Tarrant County Bar Association.
2021
Quincalee Brown, 1961, BA-English; BA-Speech. Brown dedicated her life to serving the needs of women and to ensuring water quality.
Vincent L. Gott, 1951, BS-Biological Sciences. Gott is known the world over for his work in cardiac surgery and his assistance with developing the first pacemaker and artificial heart valves. Gott was inducted posthumously.
Alfonso E. Lenhardt, 1976, MS-Administration of Justice. Lenhardt committed his life to serving his country, first through the U.S. Army and then through several high profile government positions, including U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania.
2019
Judy Bell, 1961, BA-Psychology; minor in Sociology. Bell was the first woman to head the U.S. Golf Association, and began her golf career at the 1950 U.S. Women’s Open at the age of 14. She was also a successful entrepreneur, having operated seven businesses during her career.
Robert D. Blackwill, 1962, BA-English and history. Blackwill is the former ambassador to Vienna and was the head of Soviet-Russia conventional arms negotiation in Europe. He has also served as ambassador to India, presidential envoy to Iraq, deputy national security advisor, Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and is an accomplished author.
Donna Sweet, 1970, 1972, BS and MS-Biological Sciences; minor in Chemistry. Sweet is one of Kansas’s top HIV-positive and AIDS specialists and a noted national and international speaker on the subject.