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The program will include remarks by the awardees, as well as University President Dr. Thomas Newsom, Senior Director of Alumni & Constituent Relations Danielle Driskill and Alumni Association President Angela Meyer.
The Meritorious Achievement Award will be presented to Special Olympics Kansas President and CEO John M. Lair and to Nurse Practitioner Patricia L. Sullivan, DNP, FNP-C.
Lair (BS ‘96 - Recreation) sealed his professional fate when he volunteered at a Special Olympics track meet at Carnie Smith Stadium when he was a student. The following week, he chose Recreational Therapy as his major.
Lair went on to start his own team, which grew from four athletes to 150. In the 35 years that followed, he rose to the top position at the state level.
He has forged lifelong friendships and traveled with athletes to games in Austria, Greece, Italy, China, and South Korea; has been honored as one of “50 Kansans You Should Know” by Ingrams Magazine; and received numerous recognitions, including the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, North America Special Olympics Coach of the Year, the American Health Care Association Hero of the Year, Pitt State’s Dr. Kenneth K. Bateman Outstanding Alumni Award, and is a member of the Pittsburg State Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Pittsburg State University Foundation Heritage Society.
Since 2017, the state organization grew from 3,000 athletes to 7,000.
Lair lives in Shawnee and is married to MeLinda Lair (BA ‘99).
“Pitt State taught me the value of relationships. It’s a place where professors know your name, mentors invest in your growth, and leadership opportunities aren’t just available — they’re encouraged,” he said. “That environment helped me build confidence, communication skills, and the ability to connect with people from all walks of life, which has been critical in my role with Special Olympics Kansas.”
“This award is not just about me. It reflects the athletes, coaches, volunteers, law enforcement partners, and staff across Kansas who make our mission possible,” Lair said.
Sullivan (BSN ‘99, MS ‘03, DNP ‘16 - Nursing), is a nurse practitioner at Freeman Internal Medicine & Family Practice.
A resident of Pittsburg, she is married to Dr. William Sullivan (BS ‘86).
She is the first graduate to earn three clinical degrees from the Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing.
She assisted in the design, development, and implementation of the Sullivan Clinic in Frontenac, which has generated more than 70,000 patient encounters and brought 14 new professional jobs to the local economy; the Verdigris Valley Free Medical Clinic in Altoona, which assists the poor and underserved with free medical care; and the first dedicated provider-based emergency department at Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha, which provides continuous care to residents of Wilson County.
And, she has conducted important medical research on polycystic ovarian syndrome. Her other research includes heart disease, long-haul Covid, and inflammatory and infectious diseases.
Sullivan also is a decorated hero of the May 2011 Joplin tornado, moving Level 1 trauma patients in her truck to Freeman Hospital for lifesaving intervention, and has been a financial supporter of several university programs, including the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, Partners in Progress, ROTC repelling tower, the Plaster Center, and the Veterans Memorial.
“Our instructors demanded excellence and were kind with nurturing our progress along the way,” she said. "All my instructors, professors, and preceptors along my educational journey at Pitt State are why I am who I am today. I feel blessed to have had them as mentors along the journey.”
“I am deeply humbled and grateful to have received this award,” she said. “This serves as an example that passion for applying research and evidence-based medicine to the bedside to treat the patient in need can make a lasting, recognized impact.”
The Dr. Ralf J. Thomas Distinguished Service Award will be presented to a graduate who has made a lasting difference to the Graphic Communications program, and to a graduate who has given remarkable service to the Sperry Herbarium and contributed to student scholarships.
Cowman (BST '75 - Printing Technology), is a longtime supporter of the Graphic Communications program at Pitt State. As the HR and Purchasing Manager at Boelte-Hall, LLC, he created an internship program for students there.
A resident of Olathe, Kansas, he is married to Sharon Cowman. They have three sons and six grandchildren.
He is active at Crossland College of Technology Company Days and career fairs and has secured thousands of dollars of donations of consumable materials for Graphic Communication students.
He never forgot the education he received; it inspired him to give back.
He comes to campus each year to conduct interviews with students for the internship program or full-time employment, and coordinates student submissions of graphic files to Boelte-Hall employees to be checked for correctness as an exercise in print file preparation.
“I am very honored to receive this award, but the real reason for our continued relationship with Pitt State is the interns we have hired over the years from Graphic Communications that have had a huge impact on Boelte-Hall’s success,” he said. “If it were possible, I’d share this award with all of the interns and with all the instructors for doing such an outstanding job.”
Robbinson (BS ‘73 - Environmental Studies, MS ‘80 - Biology), was the recipient of the Meritorious Achievement Award in 2022. At that time, he was celebrated for his accomplishments in his profession — accomplishments related to environmental and safety compliance leadership and best practices.
After graduation, he propelled himself into a career as a leader with major manufacturing companies in the aerospace and defense industries.
He spent the final eight years of his career with a $16 billion global facilities management and commercial real estate company as vice president of Safety, Health & Environment for the Americas, and was selected as an expert consultant to conduct a management systems audit of the tallest building in the world and the largest mall in the world, both in Dubai.
Now retired and living in Lenexa, Kansas, he is married to Carol Robbinson.
He never forgot the foundation of learning he gained from the Biology Department and dedicates time whenever he can to volunteer in the Sperry Herbarium.
There, he assists Professor Neil Snow in the processing of collected plant specimens for study by students, faculty, and researchers around the world through the use of digitization. Robbinson regularly mentors students while visiting. He and his wife have invested in scholarships for students of the program and are members of the Heritage Society.
“I gained so much from my education and time at Pitt State, and I truly love being able to give back to the university,” he said. “Receiving this very special recognition for having provided support for the university that I love (support that I certainly plan to continue doing) is very meaningful to me.”
