Findlay, Ohio, Dec. 7, 2001 – James and Lynn Child, Barbara Hennigs and Alec and Sandy Reinhardt were named Distinguished Associates at "Applause," the donor recognition reception held at The University of Findlay on Dec. 6.

Since 1975, the Distinguished Associates Award has been presented to members of the UF Associates who by their personal endeavors, financial support and leadership have brought distinction to The University of Findlay.

James and Lynn Child were honored for their longtime commitment to The University of Findlay.

A Findlay native, James Child is now a professor in the Department of Philosophy and a research fellow at the Center for Social Philosophy and Policy at Bowling Green State University. He earned a doctorate degree in philosophy from Indiana University in 1967 and a juris doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1973.

Previously, Jim held faculty positions at Brandeis University, the University of California at Santa Cruz and The Petit School of Law at Ohio Northern University. He has held numerous fellowships and research appointments, including the Fulbright Lectureship at the University of Iceland School of Law, St. Andrews University’s Centre for Philosophy and Public Policy in Scotland and the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Philosophy of Science.

Jim is the author of two books and 20 articles on subjects ranging from symbolic logic to the philosophy of law and business ethics.

From 1973-86, Jim was employed at Hancor, Inc. During 11 of those years, he served as CEO. In 1996, Jim and his wife, Lynn, and Jerry Sisser consolidated efforts to form Aardvark Media Productions, now known as Aardvark, Inc., in Findlay. Jim served as CEO until 1998, at which time he took his current position as vice president for planning.

Jim is also a partner and member of the management committee for CentraComm Communications, a newly-formed local communications company.

Lynn Child is CEO of Aardvark, Inc., and CEO of CentraComm Communications, LLC. She has worked in the fields of business and education for more than 30 years.

In addition to her work with Aardvark and CentraComm, Lynn is chairperson of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Committee of the Findlay • Hancock County Chamber of Commerce and chairperson of the mercantile division and member of the admissions committee of the United Way of Hancock County. She also holds the position of vice chairperson of the communications committee for the Findlay Rotary Club and chairperson for the Exploring/Venturing Program for the Boy Scouts of America for Findlay and Hancock County. She is a board member for the following organizations: The University of Findlay, Bridge Hospice and Home Health Care, Findlay Area Arts Partnership, Blanchard Valley Health Foundation and Lima Technical College Development Fund.

Lynn has a variety of experience in the professional realm, including four years working and managing a legal firm, nine years in management at a national manufacturer, 10 years in higher education, six years in Internet and multi-media development and two years starting a communications company.

In 2001, Lynn was named Small Business Advocate of the Year by the Findlay • Hancock County Chamber of Commerce. She was awarded the ITC 1998 U.S. North Central Regional Award for outstanding contributions in the field of distance learning and was named by the Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges as the Outstanding Educational Administrator in Ohio for 1995-96.

Lynn earned her associate’s degree from Tiffin University and her bachelor’s degree from Ohio Northern University. She holds a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in technological leadership from George Washington University.

Barbara Hennigs was recognized for her many years of service to The University of Findlay.

Barbara studied dance throughout her childhood and began her professional dancing career at the age of 16. During a 10-year period, she worked with the St. Louis Muni-Opera and the Paper Mill Playhouse in Newark, N.J. She also worked on numerous Broadway shows in New York City, as well as with the Radio City Ballet Corps and the national touring company of Guys and Dolls and Can Can. She also performed for the Sid Caesar Show.

Hennigs has lived in Findlay for 35 years, where she taught dance at the YMCA and choreographed numerous musicals for high schools and for The University of Findlay. She also worked with community theatres throughout northwest Ohio.

Through her leadership, Flag City Dance was started, where she taught ballroom dancing. Barbara opened Etc. Dance Studio 23 years ago, where she teaches jazz, yoga, tap and ballroom dancing.

In addition to teaching through the physical education area at UF, Barbara also assisted the University when she started the Donald W. Hennigs Memorial Vocal Music Scholarship. The scholarship was established in memory of her late husband, Donald.

Barbara has two daughters, Erica and Tristen, and one grandchild.

Alec and Sandy Reinhardt were honored for their years of dedication to The University of Findlay and its programs.

Alec Reinhardt retired from Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in 1999 as executive vice president, chief financial officer and director. He joined the company in 1976, serving as general counsel through 1983 and chief financial officer and director since 1983. In addition, he was elected executive vice president of the company in 1991.

In his executive vice president capacity, Alec’s responsibilities included oversight of Cooper engineered products operations and the treasury, accounting, personnel, purchasing and information systems functions. At the time of his retirement, Alec was the longest serving current member of Cooper’s board of directors.

An electrical engineering graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Alec earned master of business administration and juris doctorate degrees from The Ohio State University. He has served as vice chairman of the Blanchard Valley Health Association board of trustees and a director of the Fifth Third Bank of Northwestern Ohio, N.A.

Alec has been chairman of the University’s Mazza Collection National Board of Visitors and served as president of the United Way of Hancock County. He is a past president of the Findlay Rotary Club and a member of the board of trustees of several charitable foundations.

A former Dana Chair Executive-in-Residence at UF, Alec was awarded an honorary doctor of business and finance degree by UF in 1999.

A native of Fairborn, Ohio, Sandy Reinhardt earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at The Ohio State University. She went on to teach fourth and fifth grades in Dublin, Reynoldsburg and South Euclid, Ohio.

When the family moved to Findlay in 1976, Sandy began her career as a volunteer. She spent nine years as a mini-art teacher for Chamberlin Hill Elementary School. She also served as an artist-in-residence and is a past member of the school’s PTO.

Sandy is a past member of Associated Charities and was a founding member of the Springville Marsh Preservation Committee. She has been a member of the Coterie literary club since 1977 and is a 1994 graduate of Hancock Leadership.

In addition, Sandy is a past president and member of Nature’s Housekeeper Garden Club, a sustaining member of the Town and Campus organization, a member of the Hancock County Humane Society board and a volunteer for Open Arms Domestic Violence Shelter. She has been a host parent for foreign exchange students and is a sustainer of the Findlay Service League.