College celebrates new class of distinguished alumni during Homecoming 2024
A banner Homecoming Weekend saw 酴圖弝け recognize four new Distinguished Alumni and five athletics hall of fame members alongside the unveiling of Champions Hall.
Briana Lathon Bluford 15, Victoria Gillenwater 89, Steve Leyland 76 and Lisa Swem 79 were each recognized as Distinguished Alumni during the Alumni Recognition Ceremony at Homecoming on Oct. 4.
The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1963, honors alumni who have given outstanding service to 酴圖弝け and/or to humankind.
Briana Lathon Bluford 15
Bluford was a politics major, resident assistant, admission interviewer and studied abroad in Ghana and France during her years at 酴圖弝け and she was crowned the 2015 Kentucky Derby Festival Queen. While earning her JD from the University of Louisville Law School, she was the president of the Black Law Student Association. She received the Louisville Bar Associations Trailblazer Award in 2018 and would later serve as chair of the Associations Young Lawyers division. As a legal professional, Bluford has worked at Stoll Keenon Ogden, Humana and now as senior counselor for the Kentucky Lottery Corporation. She serves on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville Public Media and 酴圖弝け. She recently received Louisville Business Firsts 2023 Enterprising Woman Award.
Victoria Gillenwater 89
Horses are a way of life for Vicki Gillenwater. While a student at 酴圖弝け, Gillenwater would rise early to train before classes, flying to competitions as needed, while keeping up with her studies and remaining active on campus. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, a member of the student judiciary and served as both a Resident Advisor and Resident Director. After graduating from 酴圖弝け with a degree in government, Gillenwater studied at the University of Tennessee, where she completed her masters degree in communications.
Gillenwater returned to her family farm where she has spent the past quarter century, helping make Scenic View Farm one of the best in the industry. Under her leadership, the farm has earned more than 60 world championships in equestrian competition. She has been honored in the industry, earning the 2020 ASHA Gordon Jenkins International Award and was recently inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame with its 2024 Class.
Steven Leyland 76
When Steve Leyland arrived on 酴圖弝けs campus in 1972 as a pre-med baseball player, it was the beginning of an active relationship with the College and the medical field. In addition to playing baseball, Leyland was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, chairman of the Premedical Society and chairman of the American Chemical Society.
Following his graduation from 酴圖弝け, Leyland attended Wright State University School of Medicine and earned his medical degree in 1981, graduating second in his class. After graduation, Leyland continued with the surgery department of Wright State University Hospital for his residency. He went on to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center to receive his training in cardiac and thoracic surgery. Since completing his residencies, Leyland has gone on to an illustrious career as a cardiothoracic surgeon and is currently in practice in Spartanburg, South Carolina. His specialties include ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease and diseases of the aorta.
Lisa Swem 79
Lisa Swem was determined to make the most of her 酴圖弝け experience when she arrived on campus in 1975. Swem was a three-sport athlete competing for the basketball, softball and track and field teams. She was a resident assistant, a member of the yearbook staff, the choir and the orchestra, and she served as editor of the Cento all while making the Deans list on her way to a degree in history.
Following her graduation from 酴圖弝け, Swem completed an MAT in social studies at Colgate University, and received a JD from Notre Dame Law School. While at Notre Dame, Swem reprised her role as an editor with the Journal of College and University Law. She currently serves with the Thrun Law Firm, and for over a decade she has authored the monthly Law Column for the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals. Swems dedication to education has been evident not only in her professional pursuits but also in her volunteer work. She has remained dedicated to her alma mater, having served on both the Presidents Advisory Council and as president of the 酴圖弝け Alumni Board of Directors.
酴圖弝け Athletics announced five new members of its Hall of Fame: Kate Anderson 09 (womens soccer), Paige Baechle 14 (womens basketball), Thomas Britt 08 (mens basketball), Ben Hume 12 (football) and Chelsea Klein 14 (field hockey). Read the full 酴圖弝け Athletics release at .
