Homecoming Award Recipients

Charles (Class of 1970) and Virginia (Class of 1969) Beetz

For the first time, a duo will be inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame. Charles has held a remarkable career in the physics industry, notably for General Motors, where his pioneering work focused on understanding the properties of ultra-high-strength carbon fibers. He also co-founded ZoomEssence, Inc., a company that has revolutionized the production of flavored powders used in food and drinks products. Virginia held a teaching career for more than 25 years, teaching mathematics and computer science. Her expertise extended to serving as the director of information technology  at Naugatuck Valley Community College for 11 years, contributing significantly to the institution's technological advancement.

Together, Charles and Virginia began a passion project by establishing a vineyard in Pendleton County, Kentucky in 2006; in 2010 it became a licensed small-farm winery - Rose Hill Farm Winery. Their products have won awards and recognition across the state.

Col. Richard Halbleib (Class of 1974)

Richard Halbleib received his Regular Army Military Intelligence commission in 1974 through the ROTC program at MSU. He served in active-duty military for 24 years with a total of more than 43 years with the Department of Defense and the U.S. intelligence community. He served at tactical, operational and strategic levels, where he has been widely recognized. He has been the recipient of the National Intelligence Reform Medal, National Intelligence Exceptional Achievement Medal and the Defense Superior Service Medal, among many other awards and recognition.

Colonel Halbleib retired from the U.S. Army in 2001 and currently serves as the president  of Global Watchmen Associates (GWA), a group of veteran leaders who address domestic security, developing foreign intelligence partnerships, and improving operational and tactical intelligence capabilities.

Colonel Halbleib was inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame and was also the recipient of the Theta Chi International Fraternity Distinguished Achievement Award.

Jason Otto (Class of 1996)

Following his time at MSU, Otto graduated with honors from Georgetown University Law Center. Upon passing the bar, Jason was admitted to the bar of New York and the U.S.  District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

Jason's commitment to excellence took him to The Swiss RE Group, where he assumed the roles of vice president, legal counsel - dispute resolution  and litigation, and later senior vice president . During his tenure, he was pivotal in directing the response to investigations initiated by financial market regulators in Australia.

In 2020, Jason's career reached new heights when he joined EFG Bank, AG, in Zurich, Switzerland, as the senior legal counsel for litigation  and Investigations.

Dr. Cherie Carnes Rebar (Class of 1988)

Rebar is a nationally recognized and respected educator and leader in the field of nursing. She has authored one of the most widely sold nursing textbooks in the United States and Canada and actively contributes to and reviews nationally renowned nursing resources, encompassing textbooks, e-learning modules, test banks, and lesson plans. Rebar is currently a professor of nursing at Galen College.

In addition to her publishing recognition, she has earned such accolades as the Faculty Excellence Award, Collegium Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Southwest Ohio Council for Higher Education Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Andrew Gillette (Class of 2015)

Gillette is a leading fundraising and development professional. While working at the West End School in Louisville, he achieved a remarkable milestone by stewarding the largest single gift in the history of the city of Louisville, securing a $20 million award from Brown-Forman. He now oversees development for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, where he is leading a $15 million capital campaign.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Gillette has served with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and served on the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Zeta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Roger Gillespie (Class of 1996)

A proud graduate of MSU, Gillespie never hesitates to share his Eagle Spirit. He is the undisputed biggest fan of MSU basketball. His unwavering passion for basketball came during the 1997 season and has continued unabated to this day. Roger has attended every Eagle home basketball game  without fail for the last 27 years and attends most of the away games.

While at MSU, Gillespie was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity.