Guy rehabilitates himself after working for Rock 101

NEWS RELEASE

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY

********************* Scott Shackleton to receive LSSU Outstanding Alumnus Award

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State University Alumni Association will present Sault Ste. Marie resident and former State House of Representatives member Scott Shackleton with the Outstanding Alumnus Award during Great Lake State Weekend, October 21-22.

First presented in 1968, the LSSU Outstanding Alumnus Award recognizes personal and professional accomplishments and involvement with LSSU.

It is the highest honor presented by the LSSU Alumni Association.

The 1983 graduate will be honored during an alumni awards reception, open to the public, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. on October 21 in the Walker Cisler Center.

Tickets are $10 each.

"LSSU is an important part of our community," Shackleton said when notified of the award. "Receiving this honor really hits close to home for me and means more than I can say."

One of LSSU's biggest advocates during his tenure in the Michigan House of Representatives, Shackleton left the State House at the end of 2004 after three two-year terms.

During his tenure, he wrote 27 pieces of legislation that became law, including a bill that would increase state funding for LSSU's newly opened Arts Center to 75 percent of the total project cost.

He called the accomplishment one of his major goals and said he will always take pride in helping the University in that manner and in other ways.

Other highlights of his career included legislation prohibiting directional drilling under the Great Lakes, and a bill that provides a death benefit to the survivors of police, fire, and other emergency service personnel should the public servant be killed in the line of duty.

Shackleton served on the House Appropriations Committee and was chair of the Transportation and Capital Outlay sub-committees.

During his term, several groups selected him as Legislator of the Year, including the Police Officers Association of Michigan, the Michigan Restaurant Association, the Michigan Hotel-Motel Association and the Michigan Fraternal Order of Police.

Shackleton said his experience at LSSU, where he graduated with a degree in business administration, helped him get started in his political career.

"I find that one thing seems to lead to another. My degree at Lake prepared me to serve in an internship for (former U.S. Rep.) Bob Davis in Washington D.C., which led to my job as news director at WSOO/WSUE radio stations, which led to my community involvement, including five years on the Sault City Commission and as a state house member.

"Lake gave me the educational and organizational tools to be able to succeed at those endeavors after college. I worked at Kmart 20-30 hours a week and carried a full load at Lake. You had to be organized!"

Like many Sault residents, Shackleton was no stranger to the LSSU campus, even before he took his first class.

"The school has always been a part of my life. I grew up two blocks away and as a child enjoyed being able to use the tennis courts, the bowling alley, watching the new buildings go up, and going to sporting events.

"As a student, the school provided me with a solid education and foundation for life. As an adult I was thrilled when LSSU won the national hockey titles and most recently was very excited to see the new arts building open."

A former president of the Downtown Business Association and former member of the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Shackleton enjoys being involved in the community.

He currently serves on the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners and is co-chair of the United Way of Chippewa County campaign.

Upon completing his tenure in the Michigan Legislature, he joined the family business and is manager of Tanglewood Marsh Golf Course.

Shackleton and his wife, Karen, whom he married in 1990, have two children, Henry, 8, and John, 5.

Karen also attended LSSU and formerly worked in the LSSU Admissions Office.

For more information on the LSSU Alumni Award, to see a list of previous recipients, or to get tickets for the Alumni Awards reception, visit www.lssu.edu/alumni, write [email protected], or call 906-635-6219.

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