Alumni Awards

We are proud of our alumni, and we want to take the opportunity each year to honor their achievements. The Alumni Achievement Award, the Young Alumni Achievement Award and the Alumni Service Award are presented each year to showcase the contributions made by our alumni. Each award is presented to a TU graduate who meets the following criteria: display strong personal integrity and character and volunteer service to their community and society.

Nominations

Alumni Achievement Award

The Alumni Achievement Award is awarded to an alumni for their achievements, leadership and contributions to their profession or field of study, their community, and their alma mater. To be eligible for the Alumni Achievement Award, the individual must be a living graduate of Tiffin University for a minimum of 15 years. 

The nominations are vetted and selected by the Alumni Association Board award sub-committee. Awards are presented during Green & Gold – Homecoming & Family Weekend.

Dennis and Gail Foos

Dennis and Gail Foos, are both proud 1968 graduates of Tiffin University. They have dedicated their lives to leadership, service, and excellence—both during their time on campus and throughout their professional and personal journeys.

While at Tiffin University, Denny was a member of Phi Theta Pi International Honorary Commerce Fraternity, where he held several leadership roles and remains a lifetime member. Gail joined Alpha Iota Sorority in 1966, where she served as an officer and contributed to numerous campus and community service projects.

After graduation, Denny and Gail chose to stay in Tiffin and were married in July 1968. In Tiffin, they launched their careers and built a family. In 1982, the economy made a turn for the worse, and Denny lost his job. It was at that time that Denny and Gail took Denny’s 20+ years of experience in construction and combined it with their joint business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit to establish Foos Construction Inc. For over 25 years, they worked side by side to grow their company into a trusted name in the region. Their business became known for quality remodeling and construction services throughout Greater Tiffin and the surrounding area.

Beyond their professional success, Denny and Gail have been deeply committed to their community. Denny has served on the Board of Directors for the Tiffin United Way and is an active member of St. Mary’s Church, where he has served on the Finance Committee and the Festival Finance Director. Gail is a member of Family of Faith Lutheran Church and served on the Board of the Ritz Theatre, contributing to Tiffin’s cultural and artistic life.

Denny and Gail have remained closely connected to Tiffin University. They actively mentor students, participate in alumni and campus events, and offer career guidance to current students. Their generosity and hospitality are evident in the annual “pool party” they host for members of Phi Theta Pi. In 2024, Denny played a key role in the success of establishing the George L. Dupey Endowed Scholarship, serving as the fraternity’s Scholarship Committee Chairman and acting as a liaison to TU’s administration. Together, Denny and Gail are Tiffin Society members, LIFE@TU members, and proud participants of TU’s Golden Graduates Program.

Their decades of dedication, integrity, and unwavering support for Tiffin University and the Tiffin community exemplify the very spirit of the Alumni Achievement Award. Denny and Gail Foos are true Dragons—leading with heart, service, and pride, together.

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Young Alumni Achievement Award

The Young Alumni Achievement Award is presented to honor the achievements of young alumni whose lives exemplify high principles, and who are outstanding leaders in their profession and community. To be eligible for the Young Alumni Achievement Award, a person must be a graduate of Tiffin University within the last 15 years. 

The nominations are vetted and selected by the Alumni Association Board award sub-committee. Awards are presented during Green & Gold – Homecoming & Family Weekend.

Bryce Riggs

Bryce Riggs currently serves as the President & CEO of the Seneca County Collaborative, where he leads a unified team advancing a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Seneca County through business advocacy, economic development, tourism promotion, and downtown revitalization.

He was appointed to this role in 2025 following nearly five years of transformative leadership as Executive Director of the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce and Destination Seneca County. During his tenure, the Chamber achieved its highest membership in history, growing by more than 70 percent, while Destination Seneca County earned 11 statewide tourism awards and led ten record-breaking lodging tax quarters.

In recognition of his impact, Bryce received the Michael A. Schultz Professional of the Year Award from the Chamber Professionals of Ohio in 2025. The Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce was also named Outstanding Chamber of the Year (under 600 members) in 2023. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for both the Ohio Travel Association and the Chamber Professionals of Ohio, and remains actively involved in local and statewide initiatives focused on long-term regional growth and community success.

A proud product of the community he serves, Bryce earned his Master of Business Administration in Global Leadership & Change from Tiffin University in 2020 and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Heidelberg University in 2015.

Bryce and his wife, Allison, reside in Tiffin with their two dogs, Tucker and Taz, and their cat, Wil. He takes great pride in serving the place he calls home and remains committed to creating a meaningful, lasting impact for the people and businesses of Seneca County.

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Alumni Service Award

The Alumni Service Award is awarded to an alumni in recognition of their dedication to the University through service in alumni programs, on advisory committees, and through efforts made to ensure the welfare of the institution. 

The nominations are vetted and selected by the Alumni Association Board award sub-committee. Awards are presented during Green & Gold – Homecoming & Family Weekend.

Tracy Almanson

Tracy Almanson, a proud 1990 graduate of Tiffin University with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, has exemplified a lifelong dedication to service, mentorship, and the continued success of her alma mater.

During her time as an alumna, Tracy has remained an engaged and enthusiastic advocate for Tiffin University. She served with distinction on the Alumni Association Board for the maximum term of six years and was recently appointed to the prestigious Hall of Fame Board. Her commitment to TU runs deep—from attending campus events and inviting community members to join, to actively encouraging prospective students to consider Tiffin for their undergraduate and graduate studies.

In 1990 Tracy received the Tiffin University Criminal Justice Wilkinson award and is a 2000 Hall of Fame inductee for Basketball.

A strong believer in lifting others as she climbs, Tracy has acted as an informal mentor to students, coworkers and alumni alike. She helped facilitate internship opportunities at her former employer, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, where she retired in March 2022 after an extraordinary 31.5 years of service. Throughout her career, she embodied professionalism, leadership, and compassion.

Tracy continues to serve her community and uplift others in retirement. She currently works as the Administrative Assistant to Reverend Dr. Ruth McCants Locke at St. John AME Church and teaches Self-Defense for Women as a part-time adjunct professor at The Ohio State University. She is also a proud member of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ), a reflection of her lifelong commitment to equity and excellence in the field.
     
Tracy credits her strong commitment to service to the example set by her mother, Grace Almanson, and her siblings, all of whom have dedicated themselves to public service in various capacities. Her unwavering support and contributions to Tiffin University—particularly to the Women’s Basketball and Criminal Justice programs—reflect the deep gratitude she feels for the foundation these programs provided in launching her successful and purposeful career.

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To be considered for the awards, an individual must first be nominated. Nominations can be offered by anyone except the person being nominated. All nominations must be received in the Office of Alumni Relations by the designated deadline. As noted, the recipient must be present on campus to receive the award, barring any extenuating circumstances.

Nomination forms for the Alumni Awards can be obtained from the Alumni Office by calling 419.448.3595 or clicking on the links above when active. Nominations will be kept on file and reviewed annually for five years.

Past Alumni Award Recipients