Ed and Diane Donaldson Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame

Bob McArthur – Class of 1964                                                         
Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Civil Service

• 33 years of dedicated service to the Brandon Fire Department, including 12 of those years as a Fire Chief
• Member of the Ortonville Masons, and the Order of the Eastern Stars
• Previous President of the Ortonville Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the DDA
• Chairman of the Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance
• 2021 Ortonville Citizen of the Year

Rodney (Gino) Mersino Jr. - Class of 1991
Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Business

• Graduated from Michigan State University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance
• Became CEO of Mersino Dewatering in 2001 leading the company’s growth from 20 employees in 1995 to 560 employees as of September 2024
• Provided disaster response to various events like Super Storm Sandy, and Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Harvey, Irma, Michael, Ian, and others
• Mersino has performed some of the largest sewer bypass pumping projects ever performed in North America, such as a recent pump station bypass in Detroit, MI, delivering flows up to 200 million gallons per day for over two years

Dennis Hoffman – Class of 1966                                                               
Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in providing significant decades of service and leadership in the Ortonville-Brandon Community

• VFW Post 582 Commander since 2014 serving the community and veterans
• Entered the Army 1968-1970, a charter member of the VFW Post 582 - 38 years
• Served 13 months on the Korean DMZ, July 1969 Army Letter of Commendation
• 2018-2019 National Aide-De-Camp Appointment
• All State VFW Post Commander and Oakland County Commander
• Advocated for the Purple Heart Trail on M-15 in the village limits of Ortonville, signed into law in December 2018
• 2018 Received Eagle Scout Mentor Pin

Dr. William Tahaney - Class of 2010
Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Breast Cancer Research

• Biomedical research scientist with a strong background in molecular biology and manuscript writing
• San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2021 Basic Science Scholar Award Recipient
• Extensive research and co-authored numerous publications involving breast cancer research (2017-2023).  The articles have been in significant publications such as Cancer Research, Cancer Prevention Research, Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, npj Breast Cancer, Molecular Cancer Research, and Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.
• University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Honorable Mention for Outstanding Research Trainee in Cancer Prevention 
• Ph.D. in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology

Lieutenant Greg Glover – Class of 1985                                                               
Awarded for Distinguished Achievement and Service to the safety and well-being of residents of Ortonville and Oakland County

• 1988 Graduate of the Oakland County Corrections Academy, 1992 Graduate of the Macomb Police Academy, 2001 graduate of the FBI Academy Street Survival school, 2002 graduate of the United States Marshall Fugitive School
• Highly decorated Law Enforcement Officer with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Received Investigator of the year award in 2006
• Undercover Fugitive Task Force for 9.5 years, Homicide Task Force with the Special Investigations Unit 9.5 years
• Assigned as Brandon Township Lieutenant Substation Commander from 2016 through 2022
• Has been on several featured television programs such as 48 Hours, Investigative Discovery, and Blood Lines

Dr. Michael Mannor - Class of 1998
Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Education

• Award-winning teacher, researcher, and business strategy professor at the University of Notre Dame
• Associate Dean for the University of Notre Dame MBA and EMBA programs
• Founded the 'Night of Art & Blues' fundraiser, raising over $385k for Down Syndrome research
• Chair of Strategic Leadership & Governance division of the Strategic Management Society Grenville Clark Award from Notre Dame for volunteer work that serves to advance the cause of peace and human rights

Mary A. Wilson (Wills) – Class of 1976                                                               
Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Education                                              

• Over 35 years with Michigan State University pioneering innovative approaches to educating the public and industry professionals on science-based, environmentally responsible horticulture practices.
• Educated and mobilized over 10,000 extension master gardener volunteers throughout the State of Michigan.
• Spearheaded state-wide efforts to combat emerging invasive insect pests.
• Recipient of the prestigious Michigan State University Distinguished Academic Staff Award.
• Numerous state and national awards for excellence in programs, communications, and visionary leadership

Fran Moore Hotchkiss - Class of 1979
Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Civil Service

• More than 45 years of exemplary service to the Ortonville-Brandon community at Brandon Township Public Library.
• 2020 Outstanding Small/Rural Librarian Award for the State of Michigan recognized for outstanding leadership.
• 2016 Wayne State University Professional Service Award for longstanding contributions to the youth of Brandon Township Public Library. 
• 2004 Children’s Librarian of the Year Award for the State of Michigan from the Michigan Library Association.
• 2004 Village of Ortonville Honor for Continuous Service to the Community since 1975. 

John Maxwell - Class of 1987
Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Service to our Nation

• U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1991
• Captain, U.S. Navy, Retired
• Designated as a Naval Flight Officer, trained in the P-3C Orion and commanded the Fighting Marlins of Patrol Squadron 40
• Ship's navigator in USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)
• Deployed overseas seven times to places like Italy, Iceland, Bahrain, Iraq, the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf
• Privileged to serve alongside dedicated and talented Americans who took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States of America

Ron Conigliaro – Class of 1980                                                                 
Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in the Technology and Photography                                              

• President/CEO of Quantum Information Systems
• Professional photographer and Producer at Zoom Room Studio & Ron Conigliaro Photography
• Professional Musician and Producer
• Extensive international travel with photos published and exhibited around the world
• Numerous honors including Photographer of the Year, Africa Geographic Winner and Top Photographer

Dr. Gwen Hamilton - Class of 1965
Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Nursing, Education & Research

• Over 50 years of service as a nurse, professor and researcher in the field of health care.
• Extensive research and several hundred publications related to cancer symptom management and caregiver support
• Recipient of numerous professional honors including awards from the American Academy of Nursing, National Institute of Health, American Cancer Society, Department of Defense, Oncology Nursing Society, Midwest Nursing Society and MSU
• Hometown daughter of Jack and Emeline Hamiltion, Ortonville Business Owners   

Jami McDermid (Evans) – Class of 1979                                                                                     Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Business                                               

• Global Senior Executive for for over 30 years serving fortune 100 Companies: Coca-Cola,Tropicana, Seagram, Diageo, and MillerCoors
• President of Crossmark Sales Agency with revenues in excess of $1 billion
• Established national mentor programs for women in business

Tim Purdy - Class of 1989
 Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Civil Service

• Highly decorated law enforcement officer for the Charlotte-Meckenburg police department
• Honored in 2017 as National Police Officer of the Month 
• Achieved television star status in 2010 while featured on the show "The First 48"   

Clark and Lori Cook - Class of 1979                                                                                            Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Business                                               

• Founded Cook's Farm Dairy in 1982
• Own and operate the only remaining dairy farm in Oakland County 
• Produce and distribute over 150,000 gallons of milk and ice cream yearly
• Significant support and involvement in local schools, charities, and their church

Leo T. Flood - Class of 1943
 Awarded for Distinguished Service to our Nation

• US Army Private serving in the famed Blue Devil Division of the 88th Infantry during WWII
• His bravery in action was shared in the book "Blue Devils in Italy: A History of the 88th Infantry in WWII"
• Winner of the Silver Star for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy"
• Killed in action on July 14, 1944 in Italy. Awarded the Purple Heart   

• 2004 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point
• US Army Infantry Officer, Airborne Rangers 2004 - 2012
• Three combat tours in Afghanistan, as Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Company Commander
• Recipient of three Bronze Stars and the Meritorious Service Medal

• More than 30 years of exemplary service to the Harvard Medical School
• Extensive research on the retina at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
• Recipient of the Faculty Prize for Excellence in Teaching, Academy Award of Excellence - 2007
• Class of 2005 Favorite Teacher and three time nominee for Harvard Medical School Prize for Excellence in Teaching

• 60 years of exemplary service to the Ortonville-Brandon Community.
• 1972 General Motors Excellence Award for Community Service. 1988 Person of the Year
• Brandon Board of Education, Brandon Township Board, Brandon Co-Fire Chief & Ortonville Council

• Three year starter as an offensive lineman for the University of Michigan
• All Big Ten Conference first team selection in 2004 and 2005
• Member of the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Florida Tuskers, California Redwoods & Sacramento Mountain Lions

• Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Herff Jones
• More than doubled revenues and increased shareholder equity by more than $500 million
• Extensive volunteer work including generous support for the Brandon School District