FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 4, 2000 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 DRAKE UNIVERSITY TO HONOR EIGHT ALUMNI MAY 12 On Friday, May 12, Drake University will honor eight alumni for their professional achievements as well as their service to their communities and Drake. Alumni and friends are invited to attend the Drake University National Alumni Association's Annual Awards Dinner, which begins with a 6 p.m. reception in Parents Hall at Olmsted Center, 29th Street and University Avenue. The cost is $25 per person. For reservations, call (515) 271-3152. The Distinguished Service Award — the highest honor given to Drake alumni — will be presented to Barbara A. Powers Hazlehurst, owner and president of William R. Powers Advertising in Des Plaines, Ill. She graduated from Drake in 1969 and serves on the Drake Board of Governors. The Young Alumni Achievement Award will go to Kevin Little, a 1990 Drake graduate and a sprinter on three U.S. World Championship teams who was ranked ninth in the world in the 200-meter dash by Track and Field News after his 1999 season. He is employed by U.S. West in Denver. The Young Alumni Loyalty Award will be given to Jennifer Lux Hidding, a 1993 Drake graduate and a promotional planner in entertainment software for Best Buy Corp. in Minnesota. The former Drake student body president chaired the Twin Cities Alumni Chapter for three years and served on the National Alumni Association Board. Alumni Loyalty Awards will be presented to Jodi Johnston Capps and Bob Capps of Liberty, Mo. They are co-owners of Mid-America Mortgage Services and United America Mortgage of Kansas City, Mo. They have served as co-chairs of the Drake Parents Board and Jodi Capps now chairs the Kansas City Alumni Chapter. Jodi Capps graduated from Drake in 1972 and Bob Capps graduated in 1970. Another Alumni Loyalty Award will be given to Kenneth J. Vegors, a 1971 Drake graduate and president of SLV Properties Inc., vice president of Mainstreet Financial Group Inc., and a consultant to Gaylord Sports Management in Scottsdale, Ariz. He has chaired the Drake National Alumni Association Board and volunteered as a Drake Relays official. The Alumni Achievement Award will be given to former Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad, a 1974 graduate of the Drake Law School. He served a record 16 years as Iowa's governor and chose not to seek the office again after his last term ended in January 1999. He recently joined Kaufman Nelson Pattee, a public policy firm based in Washington, D.C. Another Alumni Achievement Award will be presented to Joe D. Batten, chairman and CEO of Joe Batten Associates in Des Moines. Batten, who graduated from Drake in 1950 and earned a master's degree from Drake in 1952, created the U.S. Army’s slogan “Be All You Can Be.” He has published 21 books and is often called one of the top management and leadership authorities in the world.