FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2010
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124
aperkins@pa.muw.edu

MUW Alumni Association announces award winners
           
COLUMBUS, Miss. – The Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association recognized three deserving individuals for contributions to their respective fields and the university.
           
The Alumni Service Award was presented to Dr. Barbara Garrett, professor emerita of health and kinesiology, for her commitment, dedication, leadership and service to the advancement of the university and the Alumni Association.

She is the co-author of “Nonverbal Interaction with Adult Clients: Strategies for Caregivers.” In her retirement, she has tirelessly worked to make a difference at MUW, in her church and in the local community. She has served as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, a member of the MUW Foundation Board of Directors, an interim director of the Alumni Office and a member of the university’s Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Council.  

“Her commitment to the university and its continued growth and evolution over the years is an inspiration to all of us,” said Dr. Pat Ainsworth, president of the MUW Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Chef Erich Ogle who teaches at the Culinary Arts Institute was presented the Recent Gradaute Award. It recognizes alumni for outstanding contributions in their careers and to the university within 15 years of their graduation from MUW.

He was a member of the Culinary Arts Institute’s first graduating class. In his career, he has had the distinction of having served as a sous-chef at Old Waverly Golf Club during the 1999 LPGA Championship and was responsible for serving two meals a day, each day, to 1,500 golfers, VIPs, club members and the media.  He also worked for several years in top restaurants in Destin, Fla., before returning to Mississippi.  In the spring of 2006, Ogle was chosen to work with Chef Mario Batali during Chef Batali’s NASCAR cooking appearances featured in Food and Wine magazine. Currently, he is serving as the interim director of MUW’s Culinary Arts Institute, and he recently arranged for alumni to tag along on a culinary student lunch and field trip hosted by Chef Frank Stitt at Bottega in Birmingham.  

Ainsworth said, “We are delighted to see a recent graduate sharing his talents with MUW’s students and with us.”

MUW President Claudia A. Limbert was named the Distinguish Service Award recipient, which is presented to alumni and friends of the university who have achieved professional distinction and made significant community service contributions at the local, national and/or international level, bringing distinction and honor to the university.

“As you know, Dr. Limbert came to MUW in 2002 and will be retiring this summer. In the past eight years, she has made a remarkable difference on this campus, one that I am sure you will notice throughout the weekend as you catch a glimpse of the many educational and extracurricular opportunities available for today’s students,” Ainsworth said.
           
She also commended Limbert’s personal story as an adult learner.

“After first entering college in her 30s with four small children, Dr. Limbert and her achievements are an example for many of our students on campus today who also are adult learners.  We are proud of Dr. Limbert for what she has accomplished and what she has accomplished for MUW.”