The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County (OSUACMC) announces the selection of the first recipients of its new annual awards to recognize individuals who have provided significant contribution and support to the causes of the local alumni group, as well as to The Ohio State University and/or The OSU Alumni Association.  Tami Longaberger has been selected to receive the 2012 OSUACMC Outstanding Alumnus Award and Dan Rapol has been named to receive the 2012 Outstanding Friend of OSUACMC Award.  The awards were presented during the alumni club’s Full Membership Annual Meeting held Thursday, August 2, at 7:00pm at the VFW Post 1058 in Zanesville.

Tami Longaberger – OSUACMC Outstanding Alumnus Award

The recipient of the OSUACMC Outstanding Alumnus Award must be a graduate of The Ohio State University and is selected on the basis of submitted written nominations which present information in support of the candidate, giving consideration to criteria which emphasize distinguished professional or work experience and public service, and service and support to The Ohio State University, The OSU Alumni Association (OSUAA) and/or The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County (OSUACMC).  Award recipient Tami Longaberger has led the Ohio-based Longaberger Company for more than a decade and has been part of the company for more than 30 years.  As Longaberger’s inspirational leader, Tami guides the company’s course, upholds its values, and personifies Longaberger traditions in the public eye.

A graduate of Tri-Valley High School, Tami Longaberger began her lifelong love affair with The Ohio State University when she first set foot on campus in September of 1979.  She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from OSU, and has served on the Board of the OSU Alumni Association.  In 1995 she was appointed by then Governor George Voinovich to the University Board of Trustees.  During her 9-year tenure on the Board, Ohio State experienced transformational change, which included three university presidents, two athletic directors, two football coaches, two basketball coaches and facility construction exceeding $1 billion, including the Schottenstein Center and the $200 million renovation of Ohio Stadium.  In recognition of her impressive service to Ohio State, in August 2011 President Dr. E. Gordon Gee presented Tami with the “Distinguished Service Award,” the highest honor given for service by The Ohio State University.  Tami is also very proud to continue to contribute to an increase in the OSU Alumni membership, since her daughter Claire just graduated from Ohio State and her son Mathew begins his junior year there next month.

In the written nomination for the Outstanding Alumnus Award, the writer stated, “Tami Longaberger was very instrumental in getting our local alumni club revived in 1988 when Ohio State wanted to have a club in every county of Ohio … 88 in ’88.  She has made a lasting impact here, and of course, for the entire university with her extensive involvement in alumni and university affairs.”

As a strong supporter of philanthropic initiatives, in 1995 Tami pledged the Longaberger Company’s support for a national breast cancer fundraising and awareness program in a partnership with the American Cancer Society.  Since its founding, Horizon of Hope^® has reached 20 million women with lifesaving information and has raised more than $14 million for breast cancer research and education.  Tami also serves as chair of The Longaberger Foundation, which has given $11 million to more than 150 organizations, focusing on the issues of education, health care and helping individuals and families in need.

In addition to her business and philanthropic leadership, Tami is a respected leader and active participant in a wide variety of international, national and statewide public affairs.  She is a member of the Columbus Partnership and Ohio Business Roundtable, and previously served on the board of the Washington, D.C.-based Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars.  She was chair of the U.S. Executive Committee for the 2002 Helsinki Women Leaders Summit, in 2004 she served as a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, and in 2006 she was appointed chair of the National Women’s Business Council by President George W. Bush.  Tami has been named to the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, is a past board member of the John Glenn Public Policy Institute and, in 1993 was named the youngest chair of the Direct Selling Association, the trade group representing direct selling companies throughout the U.S.

Numerous print and broadcast media have featured Tami, such as USA Today, CNN, Inside Business, Smart Business, and a best-selling book has been authored on the company and its founder.  In 2010, Tami’s book of life lessons, Weaving Dreams: The Joy of Work, The Love of Life, was published by John Wiley & Sons.  Additionally, The Longaberger Company was named “Best Overall Company of The Year” earning the prestigious Stevie Award for Women in Business in 2011.  In March of this year, Tami was named one of 78 top Global Women leaders by Diplomatic Courier Magazine.

Dan Rapol – Outstanding Friend of OSUACMC Award

The recipient of the Outstanding Friend of OSUACMC Award is not required to be a graduate of Ohio State and is selected on the basis of submitted written nominations which present information in support of the candidate, giving consideration to criteria which emphasize participation in events and activities of The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County, distinguished professional or work experience and public service, and service and support to The Ohio State University.  Award recipient Dan Rapol has served as the Banquet Manager for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) George Selsam Post 1058 in Zanesville for the past twelve years, and has established a very positive and productive relationship with The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County.  The local club traditionally utilizes the facilities of the Zanesville VFW to conduct its major events each year, including the Full Membership Annual Meeting held in August to kick-off the new club year and the Annual Scholarship Auction, which is the group’s largest fundraiser and held during the spring.

In the nomination form submitted in support of Dan Rapol as a candidate for the Outstanding Friend of OSUACMC Award, the nominator wrote, “Dan Rapol has bent over backwards and gone beyond the call of duty to meet the needs and requests of the local OSU Alumni Club in scheduling and carrying out successful and enjoyable events in a smooth and professional manner.  He cares about our club and exhibits a great amount of pride in his affiliation with Ohio State and in the service that he and the VFW provide for OSUACMC.  He truly is a great friend of our club and worthy of recognition for his contributions!”

Dan is a 1961 graduate of Bishop Rosecrans High School in Zanesville.  He and his wife Dorothy have two daughters Christy and Shelly, both graduates of The Ohio State University, and they are the proud grandparents of grandchildren Danielle and Katie.

Dan retired from Paul Contracting in 2004, after a long and successful career as a bricklayer.  His memberships include the Bricklayers and Allied Crafts International Union, American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Eagles, Moose Lodge, VFW, and St. Nicholas Catholic Church.  His college sports favorites are Ohio State and Notre Dame, and at the pro level he is a fan of the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns, and NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr.  Dan also lists his favorite pastimes as motorcycling, baseball, NASCAR auto racing and watching his grandchildren grow up.