Honorary Degree Recipient

and Commencement Speaker
Peter Ashton
Peter Ashton is the Charles Bullard Research Professor of Forestry at Harvard University. He has been Director of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard, President of the International Association of Botanical Gardens, a governor of the U.S. Nature Conservancy and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He has received the Award for Environmental Achievement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Sultan Quaboos Prize for Environmental Conservation of UNESCO. He is the author of six books and numerous papers, mainly on the trees and forests of tropical Asia.

General interests of study include monographic and field studies of Dipterocarpaceae, the species-rich family that dominates the canopy of lowland forests in Asia; the dynamics and productivity of primary forests in different habitats; breeding systems; and population biology.

His current projects include the preparation of a field guide to trees in the Brunei region of Borneo; providing editorial assistance for the Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia; and advising on the development of the CTFS-AA Asia Program.

Honorary Degree Recipient
Darell Hammond ’96
Darell Hammond is Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of KaBOOM!, a nonprofit organization that coordinates the construction of playgrounds.

Hammond grew up with seven brothers and sisters at Mooseheart, a group home outside of Chicago.  The Mooseheart community instilled in Hammond the power of volunteerism and helping those less fortunate.

His journey would eventually lead him to co-found KaBOOM! in 1995 and begin his lifelong commitment to give all children the opportunity to play.

Hammond has won numerous national service and leadership awards and has been profiled in People, Washingtonian, Fortune, Fast Company and Worth magazines, the Non-Profit Times, the Chronicle on Philanthropy and Crain’s Chicago Business.  He has also received the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Distinguished Educator Award Recipient
Susan P. Eblen
Susan Eblen is a history and social studies teacher at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Ill. She also teaches a humanities honors course to expose seniors to art, music, literature, history and philosophy with a strong base in cultural literacy. Eblen says she is committed to helping her students develop a liberal arts approach to life and become life-long learners. She has taught at Glenbard West since 1994.

Eblen was nominated for the award by Parissa DJangi ’08.

Medal of Merit Recipient
William J. Bohnen ’67, posthumously

William J. Bohnen ’67 of Hinsdale, Ill., joined the Board of Trustees in the fall of 1987. He previously had served the College as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, including a term as president. Bohnen also served his classmates as a class agent, supported the College’s fund-raising efforts as a phonathon volunteer and site coordinator, and aided in its student recruitment program as an admission volunteer and host.

Bohnen actually began his post-graduate career as an admission counselor before joining the U.S. Army for three years. He served a tour of duty in Germany and left the service as a captain. He graduated with honors in the middle management program at Aurora College in 1975. He was president and owner of Guardian Metal Sales in Morton Grove, Ill.

Bohnen became a charter member of Ripon’s Partners in the Legacy in 1995, and he and his wife, Linda Jensen Bohnen ’68, have supported Ripon’s annual fund for 39 years.

Bohnen’s youngest daughter, Marcia, died in 1996. He and Linda established an indoor riding stable in Marcia’s name at the Hanson Center for special needs children in Burr Ridge, Ill.

Medal of Merit Recipient

Owen P. Gleason ’73, posthumously

Owen P. Gleason ’73 of Eden Prairie, Minn., joined the Board of Trustees as an alumni trustee in 1995. In his 12 years on the board, Gleason was a pivotal contributor to the College.

He served for more than a dozen years on the Ripon College Alumni Association Board of Directors, including a stint as president.

He also was a founding member of the Leadership Alliance and a charter member of Partners in the Legacy. He and his wife, Roxanne Sortino Gleason, established the Roxanne and Owen Gleason Family Presidential Scholarship Endowment in 1997 to help expand the financial assistance program for students.

Gleason chaired the campaign committee for the Campaign for Ripon College 1999-2004, which despite never entering a broad-based public phase raised more than $37 million.

In addition, he generously supported the annual fund, special endowments and capital projects. He participated in alumni student recruitment programs and phoneathons and volunteered for placement and career guidance projects.

Gleason majored in English and history at Ripon and received a law degree from Oklahoma City University in 1976. He was a retired vice president and general counsel of C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.