Fairmount College Hall of Fame inductees
Induction into the Fairmount College Hall of Fame is the highest recognition of outstanding alumni who have had a significant impact on the region, nation and world. Follow the links to learn more about each inductee's life and career.
2024
1962, BA-Speech. Bender spent more than 40 years in sportscasting, covering college sports, the NFL, MLB and NBA, and capping his career as the voice of the Phoenix Suns.
1977, BS-Chemistry. Nemer serves as Canada's chief science advisor. She is known for her pioneering research focusing on heart development and function in relation to heart failure and diseases.
1973, BA-English. Pelton is the CEO and president of the Boston Foundation. He has positioned the organization as an agent for social change by centering equity in its programs, grantmaking and civic leadership.
2023
1961, BA-Journalism. Crocker is a leader, communicator and feminist. Over her career Crocker has served as president of the Mexican American National Women鈥檚 Association, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education, and the director of communications for the Hispanic and Latino communities advocacy group, National Council of La Raza (now UnidosUS).
1971, BA-Political Science. Sturns has served as the first African American Criminal District Court Judge in Tarrant County, Texas; the first African American on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state鈥檚 highest court for criminal cases; and the first African American president of the Tarrant County Bar Association.
2021
1961, BA-English; BA-Speech. Brown dedicated her life to serving the needs of women and to ensuring water quality.
1951, BS-Biological Sciences. Gott is known the world over for his work in cardiac surgery and his assistance with developing the first pacemaker and artificial heart valves. Gott was inducted posthumously.
1976, MS-Administration of Justice. Lenhardt committed his life to serving his country, first through the U.S. Army and then through several high profile government positions, including U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania.
2019
1961, BA-Psychology; minor in Sociology. Bell was the first woman to head the U.S. Golf Association, and began her golf career at the 1950 U.S. Women鈥檚 Open at the age of 14. She was also a successful entrepreneur, having operated seven businesses during her career.
1962, BA-English and history. Blackwill is the former ambassador to Vienna and was the head of Soviet-Russia conventional arms negotiation in Europe. He has also served as ambassador to India, presidential envoy to Iraq, deputy national security advisor, Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and is an accomplished author.
1970, 1972, BS and MS-Biological Sciences; minor in Chemistry. Sweet is one of Kansas鈥檚 top HIV-positive and AIDS specialists and a noted national and international speaker on the subject.