LSSU honours group of distinguished alumni

NEWS RELEASE
LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY
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SAULT STE. MARIE, MICH.– Lake Superior State University’s Lukenda School of Business has presented its 19th annual Distinguished Alumni Award to Ian Ward, senior vice president and treasurer of Auto-Owners Insurance, a Michigan-based Fortune 500 company.

Ward joins 18 others who have received the School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award, which includes corporate presidents, partners, and executive officers engaged in finance, manufacturing, banking, insurance, and energy sectors throughout the United States and Canada.

He accepted his honor during the School’s annual graduate recognition dinner at the Kewadin Casino and Convention Center in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., on April 6.

The award recognizes a preeminent career with Auto-Owners that spans more than four decades focused on the corporate investment area. When Ward came on board as an investment analyst in 1978, Auto-Owners held $450 million in assets and employed 700 associates. Ward retires this July - officially as senior vice president and treasurer – from a company that currently has $24 billion in assets and 5,200 associates.

“Ian is one of our most decorated Lakers,” said Madan Saluja in introducing his former student. “He has accumulated LSSU’s highest honors – the Alumni Association’s Kenneth Shouldice Distinguished Alumni Award in 2000, and its Outstanding Alumni Award in 2015. Tonight he receives the highest award LSSU’s Lukenda School of Business can present to one of its alumni.”

“I am humbled and honored to accept this award,” said Ward. “The things I think back on are small class sizes and direct access to professors. My profs –  Don Gerrie, Bob Gaertner, our very own Dr. Saluja - were challenging. But in the long run, it’s the tough ones that you remember because they have the most significant impact on you as a student.”

To prove that ‘tough’ works, Saluja produced - to his former student’s delight - the 1974 grade book that shows Ward notched 91% on a Contract Law final exam.

Another unique Lake State opportunity that still resonates with Ward was an opportunity to play hockey for Ron Mason, one of the winningest coaches in the history of college hockey. Mason launched the Lake Superior State College hockey program that led Ward and his teammates to a national championship in 1974. After his Lake State years, Mason went on to lead Michigan State’s hockey program for almost a quarter-century.

“Coach Mason gave me the life lessons of working on fundamentals, being prepared, never giving up, and the passion and commitment that only comes from hard work,” said Ward. “He instilled idea of team, of being there for each other, of picking each other up...the true measures of leadership.”

Ward and the 1973-74 squad were inducted into the LSSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

Ward had advice to the honored business graduates on hand during the evening. “Go forward with the work ethic, fundamentals, and the sound basic education you received at Lake State,” he said. “In the years to come, remember your alma mater with a commitment of time, talent and resources. But most importantly, tell the story of Lake State as you go forward.”

Ward backs up this philosophy with action. He has been a member of the LSSU Foundation’s Board of Directors for more than 12 years, including several years as chair of the finance committee and member of the executive committee, and is a longtime proponent and generous donor. In his position at Auto Owners, he encourages his company to hire LSSU graduates, brings recruiters to campus, and speaks to classes whenever he has an opportunity.

Originally from Sudbury, Ont., Ward is married to LSSU alumna, Toni Ward, who hails from Lansing, also the hometown of Auto-Owners. Their son, Brad, also benefited from a Lake State student-athlete experience.

The evening also saw Lukenda School of Business seniors singled out for honors.

Chelsea Ross of Pickford, Mich., received the Sault (Mich.) Area Chamber of Commerce Achievement Award. The award is given each year to an outstanding senior and is one of the highest honors an LSSU business student can receive.

Nicole Wymore, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., accepted the Outstanding Baccalaureate Student Award, which is based upon a professor poll and best overall grade point average.

The evening also inducted five students into Delta Mu Delta, an international honor society in business that is also recognized by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), from which LSSU's business program earns accreditation. Inductees must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 and be in the top 20 per cent of their class.

They included Nicole Wymore (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), Allison Furst (Onaway, Mich.), Taylor Chroninger (Alpena, Mich.), Chelsea Ross (Pickford, Mich.), and Samantha Scola (Saginaw, Mich.).

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