MARIETTA, OHIO (May 11, 2017)— Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) and its Foundation will recognize three alumni for the impact they are having on the community and will honor them with the designation of Distinguished Alumni for 2017. Honorees are Carrie L. Ankrom, Class of 1996, for Outstanding Professional Achievement, Misty Casto, Class of 1997, for Outstanding Community Service, and Hanna S. Khoury, Class of 2011, for Outstanding Professional Achievement. The trio has been invited to speak during the upcoming spring commencement.
In March the WSCO Foundation began collecting nominations for this esteemed designation. The Alumni were nominated in the categories of Outstanding Professional Achievement and Outstanding Community Service. Each submission included multiple letters of recommendation and evidence of the nominee’s level of commitment to either their professional achievement or community service.
“This year’s nominators were so passionate about the Alumni they recommended for this honor,” said Anna Rittenhouse, Executive Director for Foundation and Alumni Development. “The respect and enthusiasm that was conveyed for these individuals through the nomination process speaks volumes about how truly successful these WSCO graduates are in their daily lives.”
Carrie L. Ankrom graduated from WSCO in 1996 with an Associate of Applied Business in Mass Media Technology. Serving as the Event and Public Relations Manager of the Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) for 10 years, Carrie became the MACC President and CEO in 2015. As the Chamber’s event planner, her accomplishments included building the Annual Meeting/Dinner and the Annual Golf Outing to new heights and increasing networking opportunities for Chamber members by 25%. Under her leadership as President and CEO, she has increased the number of members in active roles within the Chamber and has guided the development of the MACC into a thriving organization within the community.
Additionally, Carrie is known for her ability to promote excellence in herself and others, she encourages continuous improvement and lifelong learning through her partnerships with local organizations and sits on the Teen Career Awareness and Entrepreneurship Expo Committees. She is also very involved with her children’s school and uses her talents to improve activities and organizations that impact them and the community.
Misty Casto graduated from WSCO in 1997 with an Associate of Applied Business, Accounting Technology. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Ohio Valley University in 2004.
Misty began her public service with Buckeye Hills Regional Council while a high school student in 1990. Her numerous positions within the agency (Development Director, 2001-2004; Assistant Executive Director, 2004-2007) culminated with her appointment as Executive Director in 2007. As the Executive Director, Misty oversees the activities of an 8-county regional development organization, specializing in providing aging, economic development, community development, and planning services to the region.
In her 26 years of service with Buckeye Hills, Misty has relentlessly dedicated her life to improving the lives of the citizens of our region. Her leadership and authority in her field are respected not just locally but on the state and national levels as well. She has served as the Secretary of the National Association of Development Organizations and the Training Chair and former president of the Development District Association of Appalachia.
Misty, with her level of excellence, professionalism, and compassion in her work, serves as a role model for all who seek to provide service to our community.
Hanna S. Khoury graduated from WSCO in 2011 with an Associate in Applied Business, Digital Technology – Computer Support Technician. He received a Bachelor in Science in 2016 from Ohio University in Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management.
Since 2011, Hanna has served as the Network Administrator and Technology Coordinator for the Wood County School System (WV). Over the past 6 years with Wood County Schools, Hanna has utilized his professional skills to transform technology support and access, implement a mobile platform, design and upgrade the infrastructure, integrate technology, and develop an effective security system for more than 2,000 students.
Hanna, also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Cyber Security and Investigation program at WSCO. His outstanding professional achievements have not gone unnoticed by the City of Cincinnati which has recently appointed Hanna as the city’s new Network Administrator.
“We are thrilled to recognize these three outstanding alumni as part of the Distinguished Alumni program at WSCO,” said Rittenhouse. “Carrie, Misty, and Hanna exemplify the qualities of the students, and working professionals, that attend and graduate from Washington State. We look forward to following their careers and wish them continued success.”
For 45 years, Washington State College of Ohio has fueled the community’s future through education. We work to make a positive impact by providing opportunities for growth. Whether you are a recent high school graduate or an adult student looking to enrich your life, we cultivate pathways to guide you toward future growth. Be inspired. Be WSCO. For more information about Washington State College of Ohio, visit www.wscc.edu or call 740.374.8716.
