The University of Central Oklahoma Alumni Association will recognize seven recipients of its Distinguished Alumni Award at its 2021 Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon at 11:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 22, in the Grand Ballroom of the Nigh University Center.
The seven recipients include Erin Clemons, Peggy Kates, Madhu Krishnamurthy, Kashif Rathore, Sheila and Preston Stinson and Gloria Torres.
Clemons, an actor and singer best known for her critically-acclaimed work as Eliza Hamilton in Broadway’s “Hamilton,” is being recognized with the Emerging Leader Distinguished Alumni Award. Her Broadway credits include playing Éponine in “Les Misérables” and “Hamilton,” where she covered the roles of Angelica, Eliza and Peggy/Maria. She is also known for her work on the national tour of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and the international tour of “Prince of Broadway.”
Clemons graduated from Central in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in music theatre. She continues to hone her craft at the Jen Waldman Studio in New York City.
Kates graduated from Central in 1972 with a degree in biology and chemistry. She currently serves on many nonprofit boards including Allied Arts, Circle of Red, GiveSmart OKC, Infant Crisis Services, Oklahoma Christian School, Oklahoma Zoological Society, Science Museum of Oklahoma, UCO Foundation Board of Trustees and YWCA Oklahoma City.
Prior to starting Midwest Wrecking Company, alongside her husband, in 1976, where she served as financial officer, Kates worked at Central as an academic adviser and a teacher for Edmond Public Schools. The success of their company allowed Kates to give back to her alma mater and support other students by establishing several scholarships honoring UCO professors.
Krishnamurthy is a senior staff writer and education writer for Chicago’s Daily Herald, where she covers suburban K-12 school districts and higher education. Before joining the Daily Herald, she worked at The Edmond Sun as a writer, copy editor and paginator. Additionally, Krishnamurthy serves as president of the Chicago Headline Club, the nation’s largest chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Her goals include helping Chicago-area newsrooms improve coverage of communities of color and employment of minorities, and promoting partnerships with higher education journalism programs.
Krishnamurthy graduated from Central with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism in 1998.
Rathore currently serves as senior vice president for digital business at CareDx, a leading precision medicine solutions company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of clinically differentiated, high-value health care solutions for transplant patients and caregivers. Rathore held various senior leadership roles within the company including serving as vice president of interoperability and in the consulting and technology lines.
Rathore earned his bachelor’s degree in management information systems in 1997. He also holds a master’s degree in executive business administration from the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Punjab, Pakistan.
Sheila and Preston Stinson are being recognized as a Distinguished Alumni couple. Sheila is an appointed district judge for Oklahoma County. She is an experienced civil litigator and trial attorney who has resolved hundreds of disputes on the family and domestic docket in Oklahoma County since assuming her post in June 2017. Preston is the owner of Stinson Development Company, a steel erection company specializing in commercial signs and billboards across the state of Oklahoma. He also serves as state representative for District 96.
Sheila earned a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from Central in 1999 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Preston graduated from Central in 1998 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and earned an MBA from Oklahoma Christian University.
Torres currently serves as executive director of Calle Dos Cinco, a community nonprofit that helps uplift local businesses and shares the Latino culture of south Oklahoma City to build connections with the city.Torres made history by being the first Latina elected to the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education, where she represents District 6. As a public servant and community liaison to the predominantly Latino parts of Oklahoma City, Torres has built connections across the city.
Torres earned a Bachelor of Arts in modern language from Central in 1996 and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Texas Women’s University.
A committee selected the Distinguished Alumni Award recipients based on peer recommendations and notable accomplishments in one of three categories: professional impact, community service and university service. The UCO Alumni Association has given the awards annually since 1952, with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our Distinguished Alumni honorees are great examples of what it means to be a ‘Broncho for Life,’” said Lauri Monetti, director of UCO Alumni Relations.
"Each one of the individuals being recognized has made lasting impacts in their communities. We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments as a highlight of our homecoming activities.”
The luncheon will include a formal awards presentation with video highlights of the honorees' lifetime accomplishments, as well as provide an opportunity for alumni to reconnect. Alumni and friends are invited to attend the luncheon by purchasing a $25 ticket, meal included, by Oct. 13.
To purchase tickets, register online at centralconnection.org/daa. For questions, call the UCO Alumni Association at 405-974-2421 or email alumni@uco.edu.