Panama City, FL – Gulf Coast State College will honor two of its finest graduates, Glen McDonald and Jarrod Wester, at the Eighth Annual Distinguished & Rising Star Alumni Awards event on Thursday, February 23. The celebration will kick off with a reception and a silent auction at 5:30 p.m., followed by the presentation of awards and dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Glen McDonald, the 2017 Distinguished Alumni of the Year, loves science and his community. He is a chemist, a business leader and an entrepreneur who works tirelessly to improve our community and our country. McDonald serves as Senior Vice President of Applied Research Associates and is responsible for the development of diesel biofuel – a complete replacement for petroleum fuels. His commitment to civic and military organizations has garnered him such elite awards as the Richard L. McLaughlin Volunteer of the Year, Lauren Merriam Memorial Award and a nomination for the Association of Florida College’s LeRoy Collins Distinguished Alumni Award.
Jarrod Wester will receive the 2017 Rising Star Alumnus of the Year award. He is a flight paramedic with Air Methods Air Ambulance in Marianna and an adjunct instructor with the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program at Gulf Coast State College. Recognized as an expert in his field, Wester has been committed to promoting EMS outreach education and expanding rural EMS services in Franklin County.
Reservations and sponsorships for the dinner and awards ceremony are available by contacting the Office of Alumni Affairs at (850) 873-3583 or email jbrooks13@gulfcoast.edu.
Event Details:
• Date: Thursday, February 23, 2017
• Time: 5:30 p.m. (Media advised to arrive at 7:00 p.m.)
• Location: Gulf Coast State College’s Advanced Technology Center
