Nick Ponche (’17)
Nick Ponche (’17) serves as the Chapter President of the Truman St. Louis Alumni Chapter, working alongside fellow volunteers to plan events and engage the St. Louis area alumni community. Since joining the Chapter in 2019, Nick has worked to engage a diverse and growing array of Truman graduates through online and in- person social gatherings, pop-up events at Truman sports games in the St. Louis area and local initiatives through volunteer opportunities with community partners. Along with awarding the annual St. Louis Chapter Scholarship to three incoming Truman students coming from the St. Louis area, one of Nick’s favorite Chapter initiatives he gets to lead is the Bulldog Family & Friends BBQ which brings the community together every summer for food and outdoor fun.
Nick graduated from Truman in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in communication and a minor in classical studies. Tied for the youngest of five family Bulldogs, Nick and his twin brother Alex attribute their decision to attend Truman to family trips through Kirksville on the way to visit relatives in Iowa as well as to visit his sister Kalen during her years as an undergraduate student at Truman. Like his parents Tom and Diane who met in Kirksville, Nick was heavily involved in Greek Life during his time on campus and served as the Tau Kappa Epsilon – Iota Gamma Chapter President during his junior and senior years. Today Nick works at Washington University in St. Louis supporting alumni engagement initiatives for the Brown School of Social Work and is a part-time MBA student at Washington University’s Olin Business School.
About the Award:
The Truman State University Alumni Association created the Bulldog Forever Volunteer of the Year Award in 2012 to honor a volunteer leader for exemplary service to the University through the Alumni Association or any of its affiliated organizations. In 2019, the name of the award was changed to the Denise L. Smith Volunteer of the Year Award in honor of the late Denise Smith, who served as the director of alumni relations at Truman for many years.
This award recognizes individuals who have sustained outstanding volunteer service to Truman State University through the Alumni Association and reflects length and depth of service on the part of the recipient.
Each year, one award is given to a member of the Truman Alumni Association who is a current member of a chapter and/or club. The Alumni Association encourages and appreciates the financial support of alumni gifts to the University. However, the Volunteer Award is intended for and elevates the service and time given to the University by our volunteers.
Nomination Criteria:
- Have an exemplary record of making a significant contribution of volunteer time, talents, and service to Truman State University, particularly within the past year (July 1 – June 30).
- Provide a significant contribution toward the mission of Truman State University and/or the mission of the Alumni Association.
- Advance the goals of the Alumni Association Strategic Plan.
Previous Recipients
- 2023: Brad Borgstede (’80)
- 2022: Brian Krippner (’89)
- 2021: JoEllen (Flanagan) Engelbart (’11)
- 2020: Hope (Slaby) Harms (’07)
- 2019: John W. Davison (’75, ’81, ’84)
- 2018: Phillip Campbell (’06)
- 2017: Gerald Hollingsworth (’67) & Karol Hollingsworth
- 2016: Marsha Redmon (’79)
- 2016: Chris Wiedmeyer (’96)
- 2015: Naomal “Vid” Vidyasagara (’92)
- 2014: Michael A. Wilson (’91)
- 2013: Tania Cook (’85)
- 2012: Will Sass (’72, ’77)