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MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� The Murray State University Alumni Association (MSUAA) will honor six incredible Murray State alumni as the 2025 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award. This year鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni dinner and award ceremony will be held on Friday, April 11 in the Murray Room of the CFSB Center. A cash bar reception will begin at 5 p.m. and the dinner and program will follow at 6 p.m.

The Distinguished Alumni Award has been presented annually to Murray State alumni who have made meaningful contributions to their professions on a local, state and national level. It is the highest honor an alum can earn from the MSUAA and recognizes those who have excelled both professionally and personally. 

The Distinguished Alumni honorees for 2025 are John 鈥淏osco鈥� Bostick, 鈥�72, Summer Carney, 鈥�04, Tripp Gibson, 鈥�05, Kathy Harris, 鈥�80, Kelli Parsons, 鈥�90, and Dale Wilson, 鈥�70. The 2025 Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient is Jonathan Lemmon, 鈥�08.

 

 

 

 

 

 

John R. "Bosco" Bostick, 鈥�72, is an experienced test pilot and flight test engineer with more than 15,000 flight hours. A Hickman County, Kentucky native, he holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics from Murray State University and a master鈥檚 degree in public administration from Troy State University. With a decades-long career in both military and civilian aviation, specializing in advanced fighter aircraft and missile systems, he continues to serve well into his 70s as a test pilot for Sunshine Aero Industries, and on numerous defense contract flight tests for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the U.S. Navy (USN). From 1983-1984, he flew with the famed USAF Thunderbirds Air Combat Command demonstration unit as part of its first F-16 team. He holds numerous commendations, including the Meritorious Service Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With more than 20 years experience serving military spouses, families and service members in various capacities, Summer Carney, 鈥�04, serves as the Employment Readiness Programs Manager for the Department of Defense at Fort Knox, Kentucky. She earned a master鈥檚 degree in human development and non-profit programming from Murray State. Over the past four years, her focus has been on providing and connecting service members and their families with employment services and resources. Past roles include serving as a Community and Veterans Liaison for the U.S. Attorney鈥檚 Office and a Military Services Coordinator for the Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition to her professional achievements, Carney is deeply involved in community service and civic engagement. She is an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and has been recognized as the Central Region Military Sorority Member of the Year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Graves County, Kentucky, native, Tripp Gibson, 鈥�05, has spent more than a decade as a Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire, having served another nearly 10 years in the minor leagues before that. During his career, Gibson has earned the opportunity to officiate several significant postseason assignments, including the 2022 World Series, where he worked the plate for Game 4, calling only the second no-hitter in World Series history. Just weeks after earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in art from Murray State, he began attending the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires. He was called up to the MLB in 2013. In addition, thanks to Gibson鈥檚 involvement in the non-profit UMPS CARE, the MLB raised more than $100,000 to help victims of the December 2021 tornado outbreak, including many in his hometown of Mayfield. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathy Harris, 鈥�80, is a recognized finance and investment leader with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and digital health. She has most recently held senior roles at Sharecare, Inc., where she led corporate development and facilitated acquisitions. Harris has also played a key role in raising significant capital and driving growth for other companies, particularly in the healthcare sector, from startups to established firms. She currently serves on multiple boards including Kindbody, Keystone Specialty Pharmacy and Scene Health, and is a strategic advisor to Claritas Health Ventures. She also lends her significant experience to support many non-profits, including the Murray State University Foundation Board of Trustees, as a founding member of Murray State鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Philanthropy Society and on the National Campaign Council for Murray State鈥檚 $100 million Be Bold Capital Campaign, which recently surpassed its goal. 

 

 

 

 

 

A Murray native, Kelli Parsons, 鈥�90, currently serves as the Global CEO at Hill & Knowlton, an international communications consultancy. She also held Chief Communication and Marketing Officer roles for Fortune 50 companies after beginning her career as a TV news reporter in Paducah. She is Chair of the Page Board of Trustees and a member of the University of Kentucky Gatton Business School Advisory Council. She previously served on the Murray State University Foundation Board of Trustees. Parsons and her husband recently committed support for Murray State by naming the new nursing building's essential skills lab in memory of her mother, Oleta Burkeen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dale Wilson graduated in 1970 with a degree in history and physical education before embarking on a 30-year career with the United States Secret Service, beginning in 1971. His extensive service included high-level roles in the protection of U.S. presidents and dignitaries, notably Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Vice President George H.W. Bush and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. He oversaw security for major national events, including presidential campaigns, conventions and inaugurations. Wilson concluded his storied career as Special Agent in Charge of the Protective Intelligence Division. After retiring, Wilson served as the Executive Administrator for the Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud in the U.S. Department of Labor, retiring again in 2015. In 2024, Wilson was the keynote speaker for the College of Education and Human Services Harry M. Sparks Distinguished Lecture Series at Murray State.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2025 Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient is Columbia, Kentucky native Jonathan Lemmon, 鈥�08. Lemmon (currently residing in Greensboro, North Carolina) serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Victory Junction, a non-profit camp serving children with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions located in Randleman, North Carolina. Through his vision and leadership, Victory Junction鈥檚 hospital outreach program was created and now provides more than 10,000 camp experiences each year. Lemmon has been with Victory Junction since 2009, working in various roles and capacities all the while developing strategic programs to further serve children who need camp both onsite and offsite. Lemmon鈥檚 leadership has supported more than 100,000 camper experiences at Victory Junction since 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

Tickets to the event are available for purchase at . For more information please contact the Murray State University Office of Alumni Relations at 800-758-8510.