AKRON — The Tippecanoe Valley High School (TVHS) Distinguished Alumni Class of 2016 has been named. The five members of this year’s class join a noble group of TVHS graduates who have led successful lives while making substantial contributions to their chosen field of work or have provided outstanding service to their community, state, or country. The Class of 2016 stands as a vivid example for all current and future students of what is possible for TVHS graduates.

The Class of 2016 includes:

• One graduate from the 1970s:  Greg Gibble (’78)
• Three graduates from the 1980s:  Scott Bibler (’82), Mindy (Creighton) Truex (’83), and Tim Doud (’88)
• One graduate from the 1990’s:  Lisa (Harger) Fear (’96)

Four recipients of the Tippecanoe Valley Legacy Award have been named. Recipients of the Legacy Award are graduates of one of the previous high schools located within the corporation boundaries – Akron, Beaver Dam, Burket, Mentone, or Talma. They, too, have led a successful life while making substantial contributions to their chosen field of work or have provided outstanding service to their community, state, or country.

This year’s recipients of the Tippecanoe Valley Legacy Award include:

• One graduate from Akron High School:  Ann (Kindig) Allen (’52)
• One graduate from Mentone High School:  Tim Harman (’72)
• One graduate from Beaver Dam High School:  Lee Norris (’47)
• One graduate from Talma High School:  Norman Wagoner (’55)

A formal dinner, to which the public is invited, will be held in honor of these nine individuals at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 in the Tippecanoe Valley Middle School Commons. In addition to the meal, local radio personality, Rita Price, will interview those being honored. Each honoree will also recognize an educator that made a significant impact in his/her life.

The TVHS Distinguished Alumni Class of 2016 and the recipients of the 2016 Tippecanoe Valley Legacy Award will participate in Induction Day activities at TVHS on Friday, Sept. 16. Induction Day will begin with a Welcome Breakfast, introductions, group pictures, and an orientation to the day ahead. The honorees will spend the morning meeting with students to share information about their lives and chosen careers. They will eat lunch with the students, providing opportunities for individual interactions. In the afternoon, Rochester Telephone Company will conduct and record individual interviews with the honorees. Induction Day will conclude with the introduction of the honorees at halftime of the football game. At that time, a commemorative plaque will be presented to each honoree or a member of his/her family.

Teachers Credit Union is the corporate sponsor of this year’s dinner honoring the Distinguished Alumni and Legacy Award recipients and the Induction Day activities.