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Tony Koopman, a family physician in Columbus, Ind., has
received the Jess Lucas Alumni Leadership Award from Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology. The honor recognizes a former member of the
college's residence hall staff for career achievements.
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Alumni Award
Winner: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology graduate Tony
Koopman (second from left) of Columbus, Ind., received the Jess
Lucas Alumni Leadership Award from Rose-Hulman President Gerald
Jakubowski, Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students
Pete Gustafson (left) and Gwen Lucas, wife of former Dean of
Student/Vice President of Student Affairs Jess Lucas. |
After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical
engineering in 1984, Koopman went onto get his medical degree from
Indiana University’s School of Medicine in 1988 and complete his
professional residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis in
1991.
Koopman established a family practice in Columbus in
1991 and continues to serve the community and its residents as a
physician at Columbus Regional Hospital. He participates in a summer
medical student mentoring program, is a member of the American Medical
Association and the American Academy of the Family Physicians.
Giving back to the Columbus area, he serves on the
executive board of the Multi-County Physicians, and the board of
directors in the Physicians Practice Organization, the Southeastern
Health Organization and the United Way Foundation.
Lessons Koopman learned as a Resident Assistant at
Rose-Hulman for two years, 1982-84, included leadership skill
development and working with people.
“I learned that people matter –- a lesson that I
appreciate more every day,” Koopman said in an interview before
accepting the award and making a presentation to members of this year’s
Rose-Hulman residence life staff of Resident Assistants and Sophomore
Advisors. “Rose-Hulman graduates are leaders and Rose-Hulman students
develop leadership skills that put them well above their counterparts in
industry.
"At Rose-Hulman, leadership skills are enriched in the residence halls,
through work with student organizations and in the athletic arenas and
fields of play," Koopman continued. "Those are the skills that put Rose-Hulman graduates and
students on the track for success. There are reasons why Rose-Hulman is
No. 1 (for the ninth straight year in U.S. News & World Report’s College
Guide) and one of them is the leadership qualities that people can
develop while on campus.”
Koopman and his wife, Leesa, have five children: Curtis,
22; Brooke, 19; Sarah, 18; Wyatt, 8; and Elliott, 5.
Koopman is the seventh recipient of the Jess Lucas
Award. Other alumni honored have been Laura Sanders (Applied Optics,
'96), 2006; Floyd Yager (Math, '89), 2005; Rodney Dick (Chem. Eng.,
'88), 2004; Doug Byrer (chem. Eng., '85), 2003; Doug Tougaw (Elect.
Eng., '91), 2002; and Tom Rude (Comp. Eng., '92), 2001.
Joining in this year's award presentation were
Rose-Hulman President Gerald Jakubowski; Pete Gustafson, vice president
of academic affairs and dean of students; Tom Miller, associate dean of
students; Brian Dyer, director of alumni affairs; and Gwen Lucas, wife
of Jess Lucas.
Lucas served as Rose-Hulman's vice president of student
affairs and dean of students from 1976 to 2000.
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