Alumni earn awards at breakfast

Three honored in annual Homecoming tradition

 

Several Trine University alumni received annual awards at the university’s Homecoming breakfast Saturday, as part of Homecoming weekend festivities in Trine’s 125th year in higher education.

Trine trustee and alumnus Lynn Brooks received Trine’s Distinguished Service Award, given to a Trine graduate who has performed outstanding service to society through his or her profession; has garnered personal and community achievement; has manifest interest in Trine University and has supported it by contributions of time, talent, and treasure; and has contributed to the recruitment of students or the placement of graduates.

Brooks earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Tri-State, now Trine, in 1975, and became an Indiana certified public accountant in 1978. He is president and chief executive officer of Rieke Packaging Systems in Auburn.

He joined Rieke in 1978, serving as president and CEO since 1996. Since 1992, he has also served as Packaging Group president for TriMas Corp. in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., the parent company of Rieke Packaging Systems, and as managing director for TriMas Corp.’s Asian Sourcing Office since 2005.

He serves as chairman of the board for Knisely Bank in Butler, Ind.; as director for Impact Products in Toledo, Ohio, Rieke Foundation, and Englass Ltd. in Leicester, England; and on the executive committee to the board of directors for TriMas Corp.

He is a member of the Steel Shipping Container Institute, the Petroleum Packaging Council, the Indiana CPA Society, the American Institute of CPAs, and the American Banking Association, as well as various youth league athletic programs. He is past director of the Auburn, Ind. Chamber of Commerce.

Donald Jordan, a 1954 civil engineering graduate, earned Trine’s Outstanding Achievement Award, given to an alumnus who has attained a high level of professional achievement, is well regarded in the community, and upholds the ideals of Trine University.

 

Jordan is an inaugural member of the Touchstone Society for university financial supporters. He established the Donald Jordan Endowed Scholarship, and has also contributed financial support to his alma mater annually since 1986.

 

After graduating from Tri-State, he completed a master’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. He is retired from the U.S. Geological Survey, a federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment. He worked as a ground water specialist, conducting geological surveys throughout the United States, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. He ended his career as a report supervisor for the southeast division, which included 10 states and Puerto Rico.

 

He lives in Tifton, Ga., where he serves on the Habitat for Humanity board, is a Kiwanis Club member, and volunteers for Red Cross blood drives.

 

Jason Stechschulte, a 2003 civil engineering graduate, was presented the Distinguished Service Young Alumnus Award, which honors a younger alumnus who has performed outstanding service to society through his or her profession; has garnered personal and community achievement; has manifest interest in Trine University and has supported it by contributions of time, talent, and treasure; and has contributed to the recruitment of students or the placement of graduates.

Stechschulte works for Marathon Oil Co. in Findlay, Ohio, where he directs the maintenance of the company’s United States pipeline. He is now working in Louisiana on the largest pipeline and refinery project in the country.

Stechschulte was a Tri-State football standout who was named to the Football Gazette’s 2001 NAIA All-American First Team and its 2002 Third Team. He was president of Tri-State’s Theta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He is still active in athletic organizations, and belongs to the Findlay Umpires Association. He is a volunteer coach for his former high school, where he enthusiastically represents Trine to developing student-athletes.