Angie Crouch
Distinguished Alumni Award
Crouch is an Emmy-award winning journalist who reports for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. She has been recognized for her coverage of President Barack Obama's inauguration, the death of pop star Michael Jackson, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and 2012's Hurricane Isaac in New Orleans.
While Crouch enjoys reporting the news, her true love is humanitarian work. She spent a month living in a remote village in South Africa helping orphans who have HIV/AIDS. When their orphanage was extensively damaged in a fire, she helped bring the children to America on a singing tour to raise funds to rebuild. She also traveled to Haiti after its 2010 earthquake and helped raise $250,000 for the victims.
She has been a writer and director for Greystone Production Co., creating hour-long programs for HGTV, the Travel Channel, and the Fine Living Network.
Jennifer Ohman
Alumni Service Award
Ohman is a nurse practitioner at LifeCircles PACE, a national program that offers comprehensive interdisciplinary services to frail older adults who desire to live in the community rather than a nursing facility.
She earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from the Kirkhof College of Nursing in 2002. In 2016, she earned a doctor of nursing practice degree, also from KCON. Ohman is a registered nurse in Michigan, with both state and national certifications as an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner.
Ohman has been a KCON Magazine advisory board member, GVSU Graduate Student Association member, and KCON Graduate Student Association board member. She is a member and regular volunteer for the GVSU Alumni Association. She is also the KCON Alumni Board vice president of education and special events.
Carolyn Ulstad
Young Alumni Award
Ulstad earned a bachelor's degree in geography and planning, with a minor in environmental science.
She has a passion for social, financial, and environmental sustainability.
Employed with the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, she collaborates with local road commissions and MDOT to rate road quality in their service area, increases community awareness of the West Michigan Clean Air Action Coalition, works on Green Commute Week, and assists with the department's long range transportation plan.
She has also been a board member for the City of Holland's Sustainability Committee. This role involves her in Project Clarity, a $12 million community effort to restore the water quality of Lake Macatawa and the Macatawa Watershed.
Barbara Hooper
Outstanding Educator Award
Barbara Hooper is an assistant professor in Grand Valley's Kirkhof College of Nursing. She joined KCON's faculty in 2008.
Hooper is well-known for going above and beyond for her students. Some examples include working hard to know all of her 80 students' names, conducting mock interviews, providing assistance with writing resumes and cover letters, and even conducting clinical visits at 3 a.m.
Alumni share that, out of all of their faculty, Hooper had the greatest impact on their time at Grand Valley. Comments included: "She was absolutely incredible and inspiring, I would not have made it without her," and "Her dedication to her students success and compassion were evident in everything that she did."
