GLENVILLE, W.Va. — The Glenville State College (GSC) Alumni Association has presented its 2020 Alumni Awards. GSC traditionally presents the awards in April, but the ceremony was postponed due to COVID-19.
The Alumni Chapter Award was presented to Antonio “Tony” Franklin Sr., a native of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. This award is presented, as needed, to an individual or to the chapter itself for contribution in support and development of the Glenville State College Alumni Association.
Franklin is currently serving as the associate director of the University of Illinois Extension. In that role, he is a member of the core administrative team that provides leadership and vision to the Illinois Extension. He oversees logistical operations, including supervising the field-based leadership team as well as providing leadership for the organizational development of Illinois Extension Unites. He serves as the affirmative action/equal employment opportunity officer for the extension.
While a student at GSC, Franklin was a member of the 1973 NAIA Division II National Runner-up football team, played intramural sports, was a student lobbyist with the Student Government Association, chaired the Social Work Club, was a member of the Blacks United Together group, played in the marching band, wrote for the school newspaper, and participated in campus plays. In addition to his degree from GSC in 1976, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education and a Master of Science degree in physical education from the University of New Mexico.
“I want to acknowledge a friend of mine, Tim Cunningham. He spearheaded the idea for an African American alumni group and we started our first black history program at Glenville a couple of years ago,” Franklin said. He added, “Some of the friendships that I forged at GSC still exist today. We still get together on a monthly basis just to chitchat and check up on each other.”
For more information about Alumni Relations at Glenville State College or to nominate a graduate for one of the Alumni Association’s awards, contact Director of Alumni Relations Conner Ferguson via e-mail at Conner.Ferguson@glenville.edu, by phone locally at 304-462-6116, or toll-free at 866-239-0285.
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