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Three honored at USI's annual Founders Day program

September 16, 2014

The University of Southern Indiana celebrated its founders and honored supporters at the annual Founders Day program sponsored by the USI Alumni Association on September 16.

"This University and all that it stands for today is a direct result of the dedication and forethought of our founders," said USI President Linda L. M. Bennett. "It's important that we take time to recognize the work of those who came before us, as well as to recognize those who are making a difference today."

The program, held in Carter Hall, included the presentation of three awards:

Special Recognition Award
The Special Recognition Award was presented to David and Vicki Campbell of New Harmony, Indiana. The Campbells support USI in many ways. David is involved with USI's collaborative relationship with New Harmony through the New Harmony Town Council and as a member of the Historic New Harmony Advisory Board. Vicki serves as vice chair for development on the USI Foundation Board of Directors, is a member of the Campaign Cabinet, served on the USI Campaign Planning Committee and was a member of the Society for Arts and Humanities board. The Campbells have supported the University financially over the years including gifts to USI's current Campaign USI: Elevating Excellence and through scholarships for students to study abroad.

Faculty Recognition Award
Hilary Braysmith, associate professor of art history in the College of Liberal Arts, received the Faculty Recognition Award. She is currently serving her 26th year at USI. Locally, she is best known for training students on how to use the visual arts to achieve community, neighborhood and economic development outcomes. At the request of the City of Evansville's Department of Metropolitan Development and Keep Evansville Beautiful, she and students provided feasibility studies for downtown Evansville and its gateways. Her largest project involved a $125,000 grant from the City of Evansville to create the two-year community revitalization project known as Sculpt EVV.

Braysmith has served on the Evansville Museum of Arts, Science & History's education committee, on the board of the Evansville African American Museum and on the College Art Association of North America's Committee on Education. She was a member of the City of Evansville Bicentennial Planning Executive Committee and co-chaired its subcommittee on Arts and Culture. She is a founding member of the Mayor's Public Art Commission. 

Alumni Service Award
Jean Blanton, partner with the law firm Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel and Shoulders, received the Alumni Service Award. She graduated from USI in 2001 with a double major in political science and public relations/advertising. She has served on the Evansville Bar Association Board of Directors, been the past chair of the Young Lawyers Section and participated in the Volunteer Lawyer Program, an organization that provides legal service to underprivileged clients in Evansville. In 2010, Blanton was named by Evansville Business Journal as one of the "20 under 40" emerging leaders in the region.

She currently serves as secretary on the USI Foundation Board of Directors and is past president of the USI Alumni Council. She also served as president of the Evansville Area Alumnae Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. Additionally, you can find her volunteering her time and efforts at many University events.

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