Wayne Dawson received the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. Dawson chose to pursue a career in journalism and enrolled at Tri-C to begin building his portfolio. A year later, he began studying at Kent State University, hoping for a spot with the school newspaper. As fate would have it, he ended up in the broadcasting department, where he honed his writing, speaking and producing skills.
Dawson joined Cleveland's NewsCenter 8 in October 1979. He began as a freelancer and became a full-time reporter in 1982. He's been the lead anchor of Fox 8 News in the Morning since 1999.
Dawson has received numerous awards and commendations, highlighted by his inductions into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Press Club of Cleveland, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Silver Circle. He is an 11-time Emmy winner and a recipient of the Press Club's Chuck Heaton Award in recognition of his community activism, sensitivity, humility and journalistic talent.
He cofounded the Dawson Foundation, a charitable endeavor that awards scholarships to deserving students. In 2022, he released his memoir, The Seeds of Greatness Are Within You, followed by a successful book tour across the region.
Lisa N. Williams, Ph.D., received the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. Williams served as president of Tri-C's Western Campus in Parma from August 2021 until her retirement in June 2024. She had also served as president of the Eastern Campus for three years.
Williams has broad experience in community college administration. She joined the College in 1995 and served in various positions across health careers programs, eventually becoming assistant dean of Health Careers and Sciences at the Western Campus. She also served as associate dean of Health Careers at the Eastern Campus for more than four years. Williams left Tri-C in 2009 to become vice president for Academic Affairs at Terra State Community College in Fremont. She held several administrative positions at the institution over the next four years. She returned to Cleveland in 2014 to become Tri-C's vice president of Learning and Engagement. Williams oversaw a variety of academic affairs programs in that role, including curriculum development and institutional research.
Williams has been active in state and national community college and higher education organizations. She has presented at numerous conferences, including the League for Innovation in the Community College, the American Association of Community Colleges and the Bellwether College Consortium. Williams holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Toledo, as well as master's and bachelor's degrees in science from the University of Akron.
Aba Paintsil received the 2024 Rising Star Award. Paintsil obtained her first degree from Durban University of Technology in South Africa. She actively participated in her church and community and had a successful sales career. In 2017, she relocated to Cleveland to pursue a nursing degree at Tri-C. Paintsil earned her Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees in 2019 and her Associate of Applied Science in Nursing in 2021.
Currently, she is pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing at the Chamberlain University College of Nursing, following the Nurse Executive track. As a registered nurse, she has worked in both hospital and home care settings. Her experiences in higher education and at the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals enable her to mentor and coach Tri-C students as they navigate college life and launch successful careers. She also works with Rhema Healthcare Services, where she provides care and advocates for her elderly clients. In her spare time, she privately tutors Tri-C Nursing students on her study methods, learning tips and exam preparation that contribute to her success at nursing school. Paintsil currently serves on the College's Mandel Scholars Alumni Board and Tri-C's Alumni Council. She firmly believes there is a leader in everyone and encourages others to follow their dreams.
Gloria Moosmann received the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award. Working as a student assistant for the College's first president, Charles Chapman, Moosman did not realize that she had begun a career at the College that would span more than 50 years. She served the College in a number of capacities, including Finance and Risk Management, Human Resources and the Tri-C Foundation. She was vice president of resource development from 1999 to 2015 before transitioning to a part-time advisory role in the President's Office for six years. During this time, she remained an active member of the Tri-C Foundation Board of Directors.
Moosman has been steadfastly devoted to Tri-C students. Under her leadership, the Tri-C Foundation raised over $225 million and created its endowment. She secured significant scholarship and endowment funds and established Tri-C as a national leader in fundraising. In addition, she expanded the Tri-C Foundation Board, which today remains a premier board in our region, and now serves as a director emeritus.
Joseph A. Yurko, P.E., received the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award. He promotes sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, aiming to combat global warming. Yurko's experience in the chemical engineering field includes roles at Xellia Pharmaceuticals and Boehringer Ingelheim Ben Venue Laboratories. He worked on facility renovations and the production of anti-infectious and chemotherapy drugs. Yurko has been a student mentor, leading educational initiatives and promoting awareness of engineering and chemistry. He has also been a Boy Scout troop leader and received numerous awards and recognition for his achievements. Yurko holds bachelor's degrees in Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering from Cleveland State University.
James I. Merlino, M.D., received the 2023 Distinguished Award. Dr. Merlino is the executive vice president and chief innovation officer for the Joint Commission, the leading accrediting body for health care organizations in the United States. Most recently, he was the chief clinical transformation officer at the Cleveland Clinic, where he was a champion for advancing patient care and enhancing the overall health care experience.
With a career spanning over 30 years, Dr. Merlino has been consistently recognized as one of the top 50 experts in health care safety. His skills in health care strategy have led him to work closely with more than 70 of the largest and most successful health care organizations in the U.S. Previously, he helped Press Ganey become one of the top 10 fastest-growing consulting firms in the U.S. as president and chief medical officer of its strategic consulting division. Dr. Merlino also serves his alma mater as a member of the Tri-C Foundation Board of Directors.
Sherri Brandon received the 2023 Distinguished Award. Brandon is the chief executive officer of Front Steps Services. Over the past 20 years, she has transformed it into a dynamic force, addressing the social drivers of health while fostering hope for those in need. She has forged partnerships with corporations, government agencies and philanthropists. Brandon also co-developed St. Joseph Commons, an innovative project offering permanent supportive living to chronically homeless individuals. She has studied internationally and experienced immersion, with a major focus on community development and economic sustainability, among impoverished communities in Jamaica and Ghana, West Africa. She founded the Victorious Women's International Fellowship, a ministry focused on building a community of support for women who have faced unique challenges. She is also an ordained minister and co-pastor at N1 Achord Church & Ministries (pronounced: N-One-Ah-Chord), alongside her husband, Senior Pastor Patrick Brandon.
Beverly Owens-Jackson received the 2023 Distinguished Award. Owens-Jackson is a resilient individual, dedicated to empowering others through her own journey of triumph. She uses her personal experiences to advocate for at-risk women and inspire change. Owens-Jackson is actively involved in mentoring programs and community development initiatives. Her entrepreneurship shines through her small business, Undeniable CHOICES LLC, where she provides affordable resale items and accessories to the community. Her greatest aspiration is to leave a legacy of respect for self and others and the understanding that one's past does not define them.
Samuel Noyola received the 2023 Rising Star Award. As a Tri-C Foundation Hispanic Scholarship recipient, Noyola graduated with honors. He was a leader in campus activities and completed Student Leadership Boot Camp. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting and finance at Cleveland State University. Noyola is a financial planner at Northwestern Mutual, where he runs a practice focused on comprehensive financial planning. He helps clients pursue their goals, providing a 360-degree financial blanket and improving economic wellness for individuals, families and businesses. Noyola has a passion for growing financial literacy within the Hispanic community, hosting educational sessions to empower individuals and enhance their financial understanding.
Erin Huber received the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award. She is a rural water, sanitation and hygiene expert, social entrepreneur, author, documentarian and the executive director and founder of Drink Local, Drink Tap Inc. For nearly 25 years, she has been a strong advocate and civic leader, working with underserved communities throughout the world. Huber is the executive producer of the documentary Making Waves, the executive producer and director of the 2020 documentary The Last Drop, co-author of Make Waves 4 Change, and advocates for equitable water and sanitation domestically and internationally.
Olena Firman received the 2022 Rising Alumni Award. After graduating from art school and about to continue her studies at the Lviv Academy of the Arts, she had the opportunity to move to Cleveland at the age of 20, where she discovered Tri-C, enrolled in the College's English as a Second Language program, and pursued a culinary degree. The passion of Tri-C's faculty chefs inspired her to think about opening her own business. Firman graduated in 2017 with an Associate of Arts degree in Restaurant and Food Service Management, earning another degree in 2018 in Culinary Arts, along with three certificates. She opened La Crepe Bakery and Café in Berea in March 2017, where she serves a wide variety of sweet and savory crepes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She combines Ukrainian, French and European-style preparation with an American touch, which has been her recipe for success.
Agustin Torres received the 2022 Rising Star Award. Torres immigrated to the United States in 1996, working in the restaurant industry as he had in his native Mexico. At Tri-C, he focused on enhancing his leadership skills and became a peer mentor. Torres graduated as a Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholar with his Associate of Arts in 2018. Inspired by his studies, he returned to his native country to interview Mexicans of African descent to learn about their transitions and families and how they cope with discrimination. Torres graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Spring 2020 and began working at a local firm, Sus Abogados Latinos, the first Spanish-speaking law firm in Ohio, where he serves as the director of client relations.
Terri Pope, Ph.D., received the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award. Former president of the Westshore Campus, Pope served in numerous academic and administrative roles at the College since 1988. Her efforts have garnered numerous awards, including Tri-C's Ralph M. Besse Award for Teaching Excellence and the League for Innovation's John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award.
Ariane Kirkpatrick received the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award. President and CEO of The AKA Team, a full-service commercial construction and facilities company with multiple divisions, including general trades, commercial cleaning and commercial waterproofing. She serves on the College's Workforce Innovation Board of Visitors and has volunteered her time as an alumna, serving on career panels for students. Kirkpatrick is also an advocate for small businesses, graduating from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Tri-C.
Harry Quiñones received the 2021 Rising Star Award. As a Tri-C student, he developed a business plan, aspiring to bring part of his Puerto Rican heritage to Cleveland by opening a restaurant or market. That dream turned into 787 Market and Café in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood, specializing in Puerto Rican goods, groceries and prepared food and coffee. At Tri-C, Quiñones was active in the College's Hispanic Council. He was also a Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholar and a Tri-C Foundation scholarship recipient.
Harold Anderson received the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award. Decorated service in the U.S. Army Reserve and work as an educator and community leader highlight this 1983 Tri-C graduate's resume. Anderson enlisted in the military more than three decades ago and rose to the rank of colonel. During his service, he has deployed to the Middle East twice and been assigned to the Pentagon. Through his work with the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Anderson founded and chaired Cleveland's first Thurgood Marshall Oratorical Debate competition in 2018. He also created an urban student forum for more than 250 middle and high school students.
Jamal Julia Boudiab received the 2020 Rising Star Award. This 2013 Tri-C graduate is part of the leadership board of the Arab Americans of Cleveland (AAC) – Young Professionals Network and a founder of Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi, a Cleveland Public Theatre program by and for Arabic-speaking communities. Boudiab studied graphic design at Tri-C and earned an Associate of Applied Business degree in 2013. She's currently a licensed real estate agent and operations manager at B2B Realty, where she leads the property management department. Born and raised in Lebanon, Boudiab immigrated to the United States with her family in 2006. She enrolled at Tri-C after graduating from Cleveland's Lincoln-West High School. The AAC connects young Arab Americans in the city, organizes events and creates a solid network of professionals. Boudiab said she joined the board to help support the close-knit ethnic community.
Lawrence Heller received the 2020 Rising Star Award. This 2013 Tri-C graduate found a new future at the College. Today, he works to help others find a better tomorrow as an addiction counselor at Northern Ohio Recovery Association (NORA) in Cleveland. Heller provides individual and group counseling at NORA while also managing client cases. During the coronavirus crisis, he helped NORA agency groups shift to telehealth services. He serves on the Mental Health Advisory Committee of the Cuyahoga County Opiate Task Force. Heller is also an active community volunteer, distributing meals to those in need every weekend. Last year, he gave out 1,000 coats to take the chill out of Cleveland's winters. His work at Tri-C, where he helped establish campus food pantries, foretold his desire to go above and beyond to help others. After graduating from Tri-C, Heller earned bachelor's degrees in social work and psychology from Cleveland State University. He says life's greatest reward is being able to see the look in someone's eyes when they begin to find hope.
Terry Calaway received the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award. He graduated from Tri-C with an Associate of Arts degree in 1978. Calaway spent decades as a higher education leader, serving as president of two institutions — Johnson County Community College in Kansas and Central Arizona College just south of Phoenix. He and his wife, Marlene — also a Tri-C graduate — established a scholarship fund with the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation to help single parents achieve educational success.
Rachel Von Hendrix received the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award. Von Hendrix enrolled at Tri-C in 2006 and committed herself to education, earning an Associate of Arts degree. She attended the Myers School of Art at the University of Akron, where she received a bachelor's degree. She then received two master's degrees from Kent State University. In 2014, she returned to Tri-C after being appointed to the College's Board of Trustees by Gov. John Kasich. She served four years and raised more than $26,000 for Tri-C's WIT program. She continues to advocate for Tri-C and WIT.
Ramona J. Smith received the 2019 Rising Star Alumni Award. She earned an Associate of Arts degree before transferring to Baldwin Wallace University, where she graduated magna cum laude. The 2014 Tri-C graduate won the Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking in 2018 with a speech focused on overcoming challenges. Smith is an award-winning professional speaker, poet and author whose mission is to uplift the world in which we live, one word at a time.
Peter J. Elliott received the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award. He graduated from Tri-C in 1990, earned a bachelor's degree from Capital University and has served as a United States marshal for three U.S. presidents. Elliott, the longest-serving U.S. marshal in Ohio, has been honored by members of the U.S. Congress on numerous occasions for his innovations and success.
Elizabeth Tilley received the 2018 Rising Star Alumni Award. She earned Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees from Tri-C in 2011 before transferring to John Carroll University, where she received a bachelor's degree in sociology and criminology and a master's degree in nonprofit administration. Tilley is the founder and executive director of Royal Haven Inc., a nonprofit organization and residential facility for men living with mental illness.
