Alumni Distinguished Service AwardLester R. Mohler ’60, H’00Lester R. Mohler has earned an international reputation for the development of a surgical procedure for the repair of the unilateral cleft lip deformity. Known as the “Mohler Technique,” it is used in all major cranio-facial clinics around the world, and is recorded in most major plastic and reconstructive surgery textbooks. Mohler has received numerous awards throughout his distinguished medical career, including the 2006 Most Outstanding Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons Award from the worldwide Smile Missions Program. He has traveled widely during the past 10 years, using and teaching his technique to other surgeons in other parts of the world. Many of his trips have been affiliated with such groups as Smile, Medical Ministries International, Midwest Medical Missions, Central America Medical Outreach and Children of the Andes, all of which are groups comprised of surgeons who travel at their own expense to give of their surgical talents to children who would not otherwise be recipients of such procedures. Throughout his career, he has served as director of plastic surgery training at Riverside Methodist Hospitals, chief of plastic surgery at Mt. Carmel Medical Center and assistant clinical professor of surgery at The Ohio State University. He has served as president of the Ohio Valley Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and has authored numerous articles and made presentations throughout the world. His favorite memories as a Cap student include the camaraderie of the science lab assistants and the fact that Capital’s small size allowed students to feel like members of one large family.
Alumni Distinguished Service AwardAdeline Zoller ’36Adeline Zoller found her niche as a volunteer and philanthropist for most of her life. She recently was named the YWCA Woman of the Year in Hamilton, Ohio. Because of her work there, she has been called “an advocate for a better environment” and “the epitome of a philanthropist.” She was chosen as Hamilton Citizen of the Year in 1997 and in 1999 the Fort Hamilton Healthcare Foundation honored her on National Philanthropy Day. She served for more than 12 years on the board of directors of the YWCA, five of those years as president. She currently is serving on the Membership and Development Committee. She has been a major supporter of Capital University through the years. As Capital strives to prepare young people for lives of service in God’s world, Zoller is one of the best examples of what a graduate of Capital should be. She also has been a very active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hamilton and served in many capacities in that congregation.
Alumni Achievement AwardRichard L. Hansler ’48Richard L. Hansler worked as a research scientist for more than 42 years with GE Lighting at Nela Park in Cleveland. At one time or another, he worked on almost every type of lamp that GE produces, and also developed improved manufacturing methods. After his retirement in 1996, he founded Lighting Innovations LLC, which is staffed by retired GE workers and retired John Carroll University physics department faculty members. The company develops state-of-the-art lighting systems and novel optical systems for a variety of customers, including an LED lighting system for a concept car for Mitsubishi. Hansler also serves as a consultant to NASA on a Micro Electrical Mechanical System. For the past two years, he has turned his attention to the effects of light on health, specifically in developing LED light sources to treat seasonal affective disorder. He helped found the Light and Health Foundation to educate and do research. Hansler was a founding board member of Lutheran Metro Ministry and still serves as chair of the Advocacy Committee. He also was the founding president of Lutheran Housing Corporation and serves as a life member of the board. His fondest memory of Capital was meeting his wife, Wanda Hegner ’49.
Young Alumni AwardThomas L. Wolfe ’83Thomas L. Wolfe is the associate dean of Humanities and Fine Arts and director of Jazz Studies at the University of Alabama. He recently traveled to Cuba as part of the university’s Cuba Initiative to develop an educational relationship with institutions of higher education and to serve as a consultant for incorporating jazz pedagogy in the music curriculum. An accomplished musician, he has served as guest artist and faculty member for the Romanian Jazz Education Summit held in Jupanesti, Romania. This forum is co-sponsored by the Fulbright Commission, the International Association for Jazz Education and Tibiscus University in Romania. Over the years, he has released eight recordings of jazz music, and will have a ninth released in April 2007. It will feature jazz guitar duos with Bertoncini. He frequently travels to underprivileged schools to perform and talk with students about jazz and life as a musician. He is a past president of the International Association for Jazz Education, Alabama Unit, and is a review panelist for the Alabama State Council on the Arts grant applications. He is active with his church, First United Methodist of Tuscaloosa, where he is the worship leader for the contemporary service called The Bridge. His fond memories of Capital include the opportunity to tour with the ensembles and perform and work with the guest artists brought to campus in conjunction with Columbus’ Jazz Arts Group. And, most importantly, he remembers meeting Sandy (Sandra Webster ’85), who is now his wife of 21 years.
Young Alumni AwardKatina Trimmer Fullen ’95, L’99Katina Fullen currently serves as executive director of Project GRAD Columbus and I KNOW I CAN. Before being named executive director, she served as director of Development and Public Relations for Project (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams). The mission of the program is to ensure a quality public school education for all at-risk children in economically disadvantaged communities so that high school graduation rates increase and graduates are closing the achievement gap prepared to enter and be successful in college. Prior to her involvement with Project GRAD, she served as special assistant to campaign chairs, the director of Major Gifts and assistant vice president at United Way. She also has worked in the office of Ohio’s former governor George Voinovich. Throughout the years, she has volunteered in I KNOW I CAN’s Early Awareness Program and Project GRAD’s College Awareness Program. She also has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity as a team member in Ghana, Africa. She has helped build a relationship between Capital and Project GRAD to create a four-week summer enrichment program for Columbus Public Schools students at Capital. Some of her fondest memories of being a Cap student include working in the Admission Office giving campus tours; her three years as a member of Chi Theta Pi; and women’s basketball games.