Texas Wesleyan University alumni, faculty members, donors and students came together on Friday at the Fort Worth Club to celebrate the Alumni Medal Dinner.

The event honored many members of the Wesleyan community for either their excellence inside the classroom, or the outreach work they are doing for the university.

Board of Trustees Chairman Beverly Volkman Powell ’92 MBA ’99 was awarded Alumna of the Year.

“I feel particularly honored to be awarded this gift this evening in the company of such great folks,” Powell said. “I was a very non-traditional student. If it hadn’t been for my professors, like Dr. Allen Henderson, I don’t know how a mother with two boys could have made it through such a wonderful college.”

Wesleyan President Frederick Slabach said Powell received the award for her work in improving various aspects of the university.

“From the Rosedale Renaissance to the resurgence of football, her vision for Texas Wesleyan is progressive and deeply rooted in her love for her alma mater,” Slabach said. “She is most deserving of the Alumna of the Year Award, and I’m very pleased to see her recognized in this regard.”

Powell has been awarded a similar award for her achievements as an alumna. In October 2009, she was awarded the Wesleyan Service Award, according to burlesonisd.net.

Powell was among six other alumni, faculty members and donors honored at the dinner, according to txwes.edu.

Other honorees included Dr. Joshua Gatson ‘00, Distinguished Alumnus; Paul Andrews, Honorary Alumnus; Julie Murphy ‘10, Young Alumni Achievement Award; Charles Willet ‘66, Wesleyan Service Award; Dr. Bruce Benz, Wesleyan Flame Award; and Ben Hunt ‘07, O.D. Bounds Award.

While preparing for the alumni dinner, members of Alumni Relations were also busy preparing for the Rams on the Road: Burleson event, according to txwes.edu. The event was held on Oct. 6 at the Lost Oak Winery in Burleson, and focused on more outreach with other alumni, according to DeAwna Wood, director of alumni relations.

“We’re basically trying to branch out and take Wesleyan to areas in which we have pockets of Texas Wesleyan alumni,” Wood said. 

Alumni Relations will host a new event called for Inside Access: Meet the Football Coaches at the new Blue Mesa Grill in Fort Worth on Nov. 3 at 5:30 p.m. Attendance is $10 and you can register at txwes.edu.