Research chemist George R. Lester, a 1954 graduate, will receive the 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award. 1989 graduates Jeanette Humphrey Byrd and Paul White will each receive Outstanding Young Alumni Awards and Susan Curtis Vaughn will receive the Rodney C. Bussey Award of Special Merit. All four alumni will be honored at the Homecoming Awards Reception Friday evening, scheduled from 6 – 8 p.m. in Baird Lounge of the Alumni Building.

Lester is known internationally for his contributions to the development of the original automotive exhaust catalysts used in exhaust emissions control and for extensions of that technology to create new business opportunities in environmental, air purification and energy-conservation application. He was a pioneer in the development of catalysts designed to destroy all three of the noxious auto exhaust pollutants and has developed catalysts related to fuel-lean engines, protection against chemical warfare attack, and is one of the inventors of a lightweight catalytic converter being used in airliners for removal of ozone.

Lester holds 46 U.S. patents and has authored over 50 technical publications. In 1996, he retired after almost 38 years with AlliedSignal, Signal Companies, UOP and Universal Oil Products Company. He is currently President of George Lester, Inc., a consultant on catalysts in environmental and energy conservation applications, and Adjunct Professor in the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science of Northwestern University. In addition to a B.A. in chemistry from Berea, Lester earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physical Chemistry from the University of Kentucky.

Jeanette Humphrey Byrd is a language arts specialist for Cummings Elementary School in Houston, Texas, and over the past 15 years also has been a kindergarten and elementary school teacher in North Carolina, London, England and Trenton, N.J. She has won numerous recognitions and awards for her teaching, including four Teacher of the Year awards from four different schools. In addition to a B.A. in elementary education from Berea, Byrd received an M.A. in Education with an emphasis on intercultural education from the University of London, England.

Paul White is associate professor of psychology and Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah. He has published numerous articles dealing with race and diversity in higher education, is a guest lecturer and speaker on diversity, prejudice and stereotyping and is involved in a statewide task force exploring ways to reduce prejudice and discrimination in Utah. After graduating with a degree in psychology from Berea, White earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Experimental Social Psychology from Northeastern University.

Since graduating 24 years ago, Susan Curtis Vaughn has served Berea College in various capacities in the Offices of Admissions, Institutional Research and Planning, President’s Office, Academic Vice President/Dean of the Faculty’s Office and is currently senior administrative assistant in the Office of the Dean and Associate Dean of the Faculty. She also provides administrative support to several important College committees. Vaughn holds a B.A. in elementary education from Berea and has completed additional coursework at Wright State University and Berea.

Also Friday will be the Black Student Union Homecoming Pageant beginning 7:30 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Chapel. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for all others.

On Saturday, there will be hot air balloon rides at the Alumni fields behind the Alumni Building from 8-9:30 a.m. The Homecoming Parade down Chestnut Street celebrating 150 years of coeducational and interracial education at Berea will begin at 11 a.m. (cancelled if raining).

A host of activities is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The Black Music Ensemble fall concert in Union Church begins at 1 p.m. and the Gordon Ross Skittles Tournament at the Log House Craft Gallery is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. New this year is a Sesquicentennial Carnival with food, music and games, celebrating Berea’s 150th anniversary, from 1 - 4 p.m. on the campus Quadrangle.

Seabury Center will be the site of women’s and men’s basketball beginning at 5:30 p.m., when the Lady Mountaineers play the University of Virginia-Wise, followed the Men’s varsity game against Milligan College at 7:30 p.m., with the Coronation of Homecoming queen and king taking place at halftime.

Festivities on Saturday conclude with three events: a Student/Alumni Dessert and Coffee Reception in Baird Lounge from 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.; a Homecoming Dance featuring music of the 70s, 80s and 90s in the Alumni Building Activities Room, and a Dance sponsored by Campus Activities for students and alumni in the upper Seabury gym from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

On Sunday morning, Rev. Canon Johnnie E. Ross, ’80, will lead an Alumni Worship Service in Union Church at 10:30, featuring a performance by the Alumni Chapel and Concert Choir.

Tickets are required for the Friday evening awards reception (no charge) and Young Alumni Pre-Game Bash Saturday from 4-6 p.m. ($15 adults; $7.50 children), which includes dinner and a basketball ticket. A single Basketball ticket ($6 adults; $3 children) is good for admission to both the men’s and women’s games on Saturday.

For a complete schedule of events, ticket prices, and to make reservations, contact the Berea College Alumni Association at (859) 985-3104 and visit www.berea.edu/alumni.