ALUMNI AWARDS

The MSU Alumni Association is honored to announce the 2024 class of alumni award recipients. They will be recognized at Homecoming, Oct. 10-12.

Charles (Class of 1970) & Virginia (Class of 1969) Beetz , Alumni Hall of Fame

Charles has had a remarkable career in the physics industry, notably for General Motors, for his pioneering work with ultra-high-strength carbon fibers. Virginia was a mathematics and computer science teacher for over 25 years. In 2006, they established Rose Hill Farm Winery in Pendleton County.

Colonel Richard Halbleib (Class of 1974), Alumni Hall of Fame

Colonel Halbleib served in the military for 24 years, with a total of 43 years in the Department of Defense and the U.S. intelligence community. He earned the National Intelligence Reform Medal and the Defense Superior Service Medal. He retired in 2001 and currently serves as the president of Global Watchmen Associates (GWA).  

Jason Otto (Class of 1996), Alumni Hall of Fame

Otto earned a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and was admitted to the bar of the state of New York and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He then worked for The Swiss Re Group, where he assumed the roles of vice president, legal counsel - dispute resolution and litigation, and later senior vice president. In 2020, he joined EFG Bank, AG, in Zurich, and in 2021 he became global head of litigations and investigations at the bank.

Dr. Cherie Carnes Rebar (Class of 1988), Notable Alumni Award

Rebar is a nationally recognized and respected nursing educator. She authored one of the most widely sold nursing textbooks in the United States and Canada and actively contributes to and reviews nationally renowned nursing resources encompassing textbooks, e-learning modules, test banks, and lesson plans.

Andrew Gillette (Class of 2015), Rising Eagle Award

Gillette is a leading fundraising and development professional. While working at the West End School in Louisville, he achieved a remarkable milestone by stewarding the largest single gift in the history of the city of Louisville, securing a $20 million award from BrownForman. He now oversees development for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky.

Roger Gillespie (Class of 1996), Eagle Spirit Award

A proud graduate of MSU, Gillespie never hesitates to share his Eagle Spirit. He is the undisputed biggest fan of MSU basketball. His passion for MSU basketball developed during the 1997 season and has continued unabated. Gillespie attended every Eagle home basketball game for the last 27 years and attends most away games.