The Wayne State Foundation will present the Outstanding Alumni Awards and the Foundation Service Award at the alumni banquet Friday, Sept. 26.
The Wayne State College Foundation and Alumni Office will continue its time-honored tradition of presenting four Outstanding Alumni Awards during the annual Wayne State Alumni Banquet on Friday, Sept. 26, as part of Homecoming week festivities. A Foundation Service Award will also be presented.
The Outstanding Alumni recipients for 2025 are Dr. Chibawanye I. Ene ’04, School of Science, Health and Criminal Justice; Vicki (Root) Engelen ’77, School of Arts and Humanities; Dr. Wendell McConnaha ’68, School of Education and Behavioral Sciences; and Karen Corral de Pesek ’07, School of Business and Technology.
The Foundation Service Award is given to an individual(s) who has enhanced the college through dedicated service, promotion, financial support, and other efforts that have benefited Wayne State. The 2025 recipients of the Foundation Service Award are Dr. Vance (’71) and Peggy (’73) Wolverton.
Dr. Chibawanye l. Ene ‘04
School of Science, Health and Criminal Justice
At Wayne State, Dr. Chibawanye Ene majored in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and graduated magna cum laude in 2004. He was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society for academic excellence. He began his biomedical research training in the life sciences department in the Carhart Science Building at Wayne State through the National Institutes of Health-funded Nebraska Scholars program (INBRE). He also served as a resident assistant in Bowen Hall and was Wayne State’s homecoming king in 2003.
After graduating from Wayne State, he received his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. During medical school, he also obtained his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. He received his neurosurgery residency training at the University of Washington-Seattle. Following residency, he underwent subspecialty training in brain tumor surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where he currently serves as assistant professor of neurosurgery (board certified) and physician-scientist in the Department of Neurosurgery. His clinical practice is focused on removing malignant tumors from regions of the brain involved in speech or movement, and a basic research laboratory that studies mechanisms that will activate the immune system to fight brain tumors.
He and his wife, Rachel (Callaway) Ene, a 2005 Wayne State graduate, have two children, Ben and Ian, two dogs, Zana and Dexter, and a cat, Kingston. He enjoys spending time with friends and family, grilling, and traveling.
Vicki (Root) Engelen ‘77
School of Arts and Humanities
Vicki Engelen, a native of suburban Minneapolis, graduated from Wayne State with a bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in Journalism. Her extracurricular activities included Dorm Council, Student Activities Board, Student Senate, Chi Omega Sorority, and Sigma Tau Delta (English honor society).
Following graduation, intense networking led to two jobs – a three-month position at an advertising agency in Omaha, followed by three years at Mutual of Omaha as a writer/editor/convention photographer in the Sales Publications department.
Engelen relocated in 1980 to join Ecolab, a global company in St. Paul, Minn. She was editor of employee publications and then promoted to two communication management positions over the years. In 1991, she joined International Multifoods in Minneapolis to manage global communications and oversee the Multifoods Foundation.
In 1993, she formed her own business, offering communication planning, writing, and editing services. Over the course of 23 years, Engelen served many companies, including former employers.
She served on local and regional boards of the International Association of Business Communicators, the American Cancer Society local board, and the board of Myasthenia Gravis Minnesota. Engelen became a Wayne State Foundation trustee in 2010.
In retirement, Engelen and her husband enjoy volunteering and traveling. She also enjoys involvement in church committees and groups, photography, reading, journaling, fiber arts, and numerous outdoor activities. She relishes spending time with her Atlanta-based son.
Dr. Wendell McConnaha ‘68
School of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Wendell McConnaha was born and raised in Eastern Nebraska. After graduating from Tekamah High School, he earned degrees from Wayne State and additional degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha before earning his Ph.D. at Purdue University. He served as a teacher, coach, counselor, and administrator in Scottsbluff, Bellevue, Broken Bow, and Hastings before taking a position at the University of Chicago in 1986. While in Chicago, Wendell began his work in international education.
After Chicago, McConnaha worked at several American universities, finishing his academic career at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to these postings, his international work has taken him to Nigeria, Romania, England, Scotland, Chile, and Indonesia.
Wendell’s work also allowed him to live for three years in Abu Dhabi and an additional three years in Beijing. McConnaha is now retired and lives in Chicago with his wife Judy and their two cats.
Karen Corral de Pesek ‘07
School of Business and Technology
Karen Corral de Pesek is a graduate of Wayne State, where she earned her degree in Public Accounting, a foundation that launched her into a successful early career with the largest CPA firm in the world. But after a few years, Pesek followed a deeper calling: to build something of her own that would serve others in a more meaningful way.
With courage, vision, and relentless drive, Pesek co-founded Pesek Law, Nebraska’s only fully bilingual personal injury law firm, where she now serves as CFO. What began as a small family firm has grown into a trusted, community-centered practice, delivering premier legal services to Spanish-speaking families across the state. Beyond her role in business, Pesek leads several initiatives that expand access to justice and education, including a free legal clinic that has served thousands through volunteer attorneys, and the True Potential Scholarship Program, which has helped nearly 300 immigrant students pursue higher education.
Today, Pesek is driven to help others reach their true potential through quality, affordable education. She brings that mission to life not only through her work at Pesek Law, but also through her leadership on nonprofit boards, scholarship fundraising, and mentorship of future professionals.
Pesek credits Wayne State for giving her the confidence and skills to dream big – and the tools to turn those dreams into action. She is honored to be recognized by the college that shaped her early journey and continues to inspire her path forward.
Dr. Vance D. Wolverton ’71 and Peggy K. Wolverton ‘73
Foundation Service Award
Dr. Vance D. Wolverton, a native of Underwood, Iowa, has had a distinguished career as an educator, administrator, choral conductor, and singer. Wolverton earned his bachelor of fine arts in Education degree (with High Honors in Music) from Wayne State in 1971, and his master of arts degree and Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Iowa in 1985.
Immediately following graduation from Wayne State, Vance enlisted in the U.S. Army, First Infantry Division, where he served as a bandsman and conductor of the First Infantry Chorus. Vance married his college sweetheart, Peggy Kay Howe, of Fremont on May 5, 1973. Together they became a team at Main Post Chapel in Ft. Riley, Kan., with Vance directing the choir and Peggy playing the organ. Following several years teaching music in the public schools in Iowa, Vance joined the faculty of California State University, Fullerton, where he served as professor of music and chairman of the music department.
Vance is a widely published author whose articles have appeared in The Choral Journal, The Music Educators Journal, The Journal of Research in Singing, and many others. The “Vance Wolverton Baltic Series” of choral editions is published by Santa Barbara Music.
Peggy K. Wolverton earned her bachelor of arts degree in Music Education from Wayne State in 1973, with concentrations in pipe organ, piano and clarinet. She completed additional coursework at the University of Missouri College Conservatory and Iowa State University. She is a former elementary music specialist and private piano and organ teacher and has served schools and churches in Kansas, Iowa, New Orleans, Southern California, Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. She also served as adjunct professor of music education at Northern Kentucky University. As an accompanist, her collaborations have included members of the New Orleans Symphony, the Pacific Symphony, and many public school and university students.
As a recitalist, she has performed in the Southwest Iowa Bach Festival, the University of Washington Baltic Studies Institute, the Danish Cultural Center of Yorba Linda (California), and the 2012 national convention of the American Guild of Organists in Nashville, Tenn. She has also performed solo organ recitals in Cincinnati, Omaha, and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Peggy was instrumental in establishing the annual Covenant First Organ Festival in Cincinnati. In retirement, Peggy serves several Omaha churches as a substitute organist.
Vance and Peggy’s generosity has had a lasting impact on Wayne State.
“My first memory of a Wolverton gift goes back to 2008, when they honored Barbara Kelton, wife of former music faculty member Ray Kelton, with a conducting podium that is still used in concerts today,” said Dr. David Bohnert, dean of Wayne State’s School of Arts and Humanities. “Since then, they’ve supported countless music projects, from instruments and storage to smartboards and the Black & Gold Performing Arts Series. They played a key role in the Peterson Fine Arts Building renovation, including a gift naming the voice studio in honor of retired faculty member Connie Webber.”
Vance and Peggy are longtime supporters and enthusiastic participants in campus life, whether conducting the Wildcat Marching Band at homecoming or performing at Music Alumni Day. Their love for music, education, and Wayne State continues to inspire students, faculty, and alumni alike.