Distinguished Emeritus Faculty Award
Dr. Elwyn DeVore '42

DeVore, a retired dean, department chair and professor in what is now the Melvin and Valorie Booth College of Business and Professional Studies, will receive the 2008 Distinguished Emeritus Faculty Award.

During his career at Northwest, DeVore played an important role in the development and implementation of several new business-related undergraduate and graduate degree programs. An alumnus who graduated in 1942, he was awarded the rank of distinguished professor in 1984 and retired in 1985 after 35 years of service to the University. He and his wife live in Maryville.

Honorary Alumni Award
Rita Hanks

Hanks, who will receive the 2008 Honorary Alumni Award, is a current member and former president and vice president of Northwest’s Board of Regents. After joining the board in 1999, she was reappointed by Gov. Matt Blunt to a second term in 2003.

In addition to her efforts on behalf of Northwest, Hanks has served on the Board of Education for Smithville public schools and is an active volunteer in the Smithville community where she lives with her husband.

A software consultant, Hanks has been employed by the Metropolitan Community Colleges of Kansas City, the Johnson County Community College Business and Industry Institute and the Delphi Battery Plant. She has also done consulting work for Ford Motor Co. and General Motors.

Young Alumni Award
Hayley Hanson '97

A law partner with Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP in Kansas City, Hanson will be honored with the 2008 Young Alumni Award.     

Hanson, who lives in Leawood, Kan., graduated from Northwest in 1997 and joined Husch Blackwell Sanders in 2000. She was named partner in 2006 and specializes in legal issues related to education. As a University student, she was active in the Phi Mu sorority and Sigma Tau Delta, an honor society for students of English. She was also a Freshman Seminar peer adviser, student ambassador and four-year letter winner on the volleyball team.

Turret Service Award
Joan Jackson '65

Jackson, a retired librarian from Redding, Iowa, will be honored with the Alumni Association’s 2008 Turret Service Award.         

A 1965 Northwest graduate, Jackson played an integral role in establishing the association’s Southern Iowa Alumni and Friends Chapter, serving as its first president. She is also a member of the Bearcat Booster Club and the national Northwest Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Jackson leads the Kids Against Hunger project at her church and is an active supporter of the Ringgold County Group Home for Mentally Challenged Youth.

Distinguished Alumni Award
George Maher

Maher, chairman of Houghton State Bank in Red Oak, Iowa, will receive the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award.

After graduating from Northwest in 1958 with a degree in business, Maher went on to become president of Houghton State Bank. During his business and community service career, he also served as president of the Red Oak Jaycees, Red Oak Industrial Foundation and Red Oak Country Club. 

Maher spearheaded several successful fundraising efforts in Red Oak and Montgomery County and is a member of the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame and Red Oak High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Iowa Football Coaches Association. 

He and his wife, Pat, a 1957 Northwest graduate, have three children and five grandchildren and live in Red Oak.

Distinguished Faculty Award
Dr. Terry Robertson

Professor and chair of Northwest’s Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Robertson will receive the 2008 Distinguished Faculty Award.

Robertson joined the Northwest faculty in 1992 and has since received many awards and accolades, including the Scholar of the Year Award from the Missouri Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the Outstanding Professional Award, which was presented at the 36th annual Midwest Therapeutic Recreation and Adapted Physical Activity Symposium. 

His academic accomplishments include approximately 50 articles published by professional journals and periodicals and more than 100 presentations at state, national and international HPERD conferences. Robertson serves as co-editor of the National Therapeutic Recreation Society’s Therapeutic Recreation Journal.