Four alumni of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point were honored at a luncheon on May 18 for achievement and service.

Shawn Granger McBride, New Orleans, La., and Rick Gering, Wausau, were named 2002 Distinguished Alumni. Mary Ann Nigbor, Stevens Point, received the 2002 Distinguished Service Award, and Robert Worth, Stevens Point, received the William C. Hansen Distinguished Service Award.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes distinguished achievement and university service. The Alumni Service Award recognizes volunteers and staff who work consistently for the UWSP Alumni Association. The William C. Hansen Award recognizes public service as demonstrated by the humanitarian work of the president of Wisconsin State Teachers College (later UWSP) from 1940 to 1962.

McBride is president and CEO of the corporation that distributes Chef Paul Prudhomme�s Magic Seasoning Blends. She received bachelor�s and a master�s degrees at UWSP. As an undergraduate, she had a summer job in Colorado where she met Prudhomme who later developed the well-known New Orleans restaurant, K-Paul�s Louisiana Kitchen. In 1984, Prudhomme invited her to join him as a sales representative. Named chief operating officer in 1986, she travels throughout the world to organize and direct cooking demonstrations and to oversee various charitable activities.

Gering, a 1979 graduate of UWSP, is a co-founder and former co-owner of Eastbay, a worldwide supplier of quality athletic footwear and apparel. In 1980 Gering and Art Juedes began the business with an inventory of shoes worth $7,000. By 1997 the business was sold for $146 million to retail giant Woolworth Corp., now known as Venator Group, which also owns Foot Locker.

Gering and Juedes began their business by visiting practice fields and speaking to athletes to explain the benefits and importance of quality footwear. Within three months, they moved out of the basement and by 1984 they had developed a catalog that was circulated nationwide. Gering serves on the boards of several organizations including the UWSP Board of Visitors.

A 1967 graduate of UWSP, Nigbor is a longtime Alumni Association supporter. She is serving her 11th term on the Alumni Association Board of Directors including two years as president. She has been on the board since 1971 for a total of 31 years of service.

"Mary Ann is the answer to every alumni director�s prayers," said former UWSP Alumni Director Karen Engelhard. "She is a volunteer who is interested, enthusiastic, willing, perceptive and generous with her time. The depth of her feeling for UWSP is obvious to everyone."

Nigbor has served for many years on the planning committee for First Nighters, an Alumni Association sponsored group of university theatre patrons. She recently was named to the UWSP Foundation Board of Directors and has served on numerous university committees.

From 1959 to 1992, Worth served as president of the Worth Company, a Stevens Point fishing equipment manufacturer founded by his father, Joseph Worth. His son, David, followed him as president of the company. Worth attended Central State Teachers College until 1950.

He led the planning and development of UWSP�s Central Wisconsin Environmental Station on Sunset Lake near Nelsonville and served as chairperson of the environmental station�s steering committee for many years.

A longtime member of the UWSP Foundation Board, Worth has served as president of the board and works on numerous university and community projects.

He established and has continued to support the Worth Fisheries Scholarship in the College of Natural Resources. In 1992 he was named Outstanding Contributor to the college. He also created a drum scholarship in the UWSP Music Department and has been instrumental in encouraging endowments from other contributors to the program.

Gering and Worth, who were not able to be present at the luncheon, will receive their awards at a later date.

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