{"id":1961,"date":"2022-11-22T19:37:15","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T19:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/?p=1961"},"modified":"2025-12-04T14:41:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T14:41:47","slug":"honoring-alumni-and-athletic-excellence-2025-alumni-awards-hall-of-fame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/honoring-alumni-and-athletic-excellence-2025-alumni-awards-hall-of-fame\/","title":{"rendered":"Honoring Alumni and Athletic Excellence: 2025 Alumni Awards &#038; Hall of Fame"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Lake Superior State University and the LSSU Alumni Association honored 11 remarkable individuals during the 2025 Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held as part of Great Lake State Weekend (GLSW) on October 25, 2025. This year\u2019s honorees included Alumni Award recipients <strong>Dr. Richard Gray<\/strong>, <strong>Dr. Christopher Merrett<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>Marisa Berlinger<\/strong>, along with Athletic Hall of Fame inductees\u00a0<strong>Lee Ann (Huffman) Wise, Jerry Cheynet<\/strong>, <strong>1972-73 Wrestling team<\/strong>, and <strong>Kord Cernich<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">The event celebrated the career achievements and athletic excellence of LSSU alumni and athletes, showcasing their impact on their communities and professions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>This event is our moment to acknowledge those who represent the very best of what it means to be a Laker,<\/em>\u201d said LSSU President David Travis. \u201c<em>Each award recipient and Hall of Fame inductee has shaped LSSU\u2019s story in meaningful ways, leaving a positive impact that reaches far beyond campus.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"x-resp-embed\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"LSSU 2025 Alumni Awards &amp; Hall of Fame Induction\" width=\"864\" height=\"486\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lymq5Mk2KmM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">This year\u2019s event marked the continued tradition of combining the Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame Induction into one ceremony, which began in 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>This celebration continues to be a standout tradition during GLSW,<\/em>\u201d said Scott Smith, LSSU Vice President of Advancement, Legislative and Alumni Affairs. \u201c<em>It\u2019s a meaningful way to honor Lakers who have excelled in their fields and in athletics, and to bring our community together in recognizing their achievements.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Each recipient\u2019s story highlighted the impact of an LSSU education, the spirit of determination, and the value of giving back.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">The <strong>LSSU Outstanding Alumnus Award<\/strong> is the highest honor that the association presents. It recognizes recipients for their personal and professional accomplishments and their involvement with LSSU.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">The <strong>Kenneth J. Shouldice Professional Achievement Award<\/strong> honors individuals whose personal and professional successes serve as outstanding examples of LSSU graduates.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">The <strong>Paul Ripley Award for Young Alumni<\/strong> is presented to graduates who have enjoyed exceptional personal and professional success early in their careers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">The <strong>Athletic Hall of Fame<\/strong> honors athletes, coaches and administrators for their successes while at Lake Superior State University.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>LSSU Outstanding Alumnus Award<\/strong>:<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3412 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Gray-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Gray-249x300.jpg 249w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Gray-850x1024.jpg 850w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Gray-768x926.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Gray-1274x1536.jpg 1274w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Gray-1699x2048.jpg 1699w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Gray-100x121.jpg 100w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Gray-864x1041.jpg 864w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Gray-1200x1446.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 249px) 100vw, 249px\" \/>Dr. Richard Gray \u201891<\/strong>, is an accomplished surgeon, educator, and healthcare leader who currently serves as CEO of Mayo Clinic in Arizona, the state\u2019s top-ranked hospital. A proud LSSU alumnus and former Laker basketball player, he has built a distinguished career marked by clinical excellence, national recognition, and influential leadership in cancer care and digital health. His longstanding connection to LSSU, along with his professional achievements and commitment to service, exemplify the qualities honored by the Outstanding Alumnus Award.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u201c<em>I am really grateful for my time at Lake Superior State and what an education here has allowed me to do professionally,<\/em>\u201d Rick said in his acceptance remarks, addressing the audience made up of LSSU faculty and staff, Sault community members, former Laker teammates and alumni. \u201c<em>I found that my education here in combination with the discipline, and teamwork, and my time management I gained by being a student athlete was an important springboard for me.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Kenneth J. Shouldice Professional Achievement Award<\/strong>:<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3413 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Merrett-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Merrett-215x300.jpg 215w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Merrett-734x1024.jpg 734w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Merrett-768x1071.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Merrett-1101x1536.jpg 1101w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Merrett-1468x2048.jpg 1468w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Merrett-100x140.jpg 100w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Merrett-864x1205.jpg 864w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Merrett-1200x1674.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Merrett-scaled.jpg 1835w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px\" \/>Dr. Christopher Merrett &#8217;86<\/strong>, Dr. Christopher Merrett is a nationally recognized leader in rural economic and community development, serving as Dean for Innovation and Economic Development, Executive Director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, and Distinguished University Professor at Western Illinois University. His career includes extensive scholarship, major grants, global presentations, and two decades of service on the Governor\u2019s Rural Affairs Council, along with advisory roles for state and national organizations. He is also deeply engaged in mentoring students and contributing to professional organizations, editorial work, and community service.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u201c<\/span><em>I take great pride in earning this award because it&#8217;s named after President Shouldice.<\/em>&#8221; commented Chris.\u00a0 &#8220;<em>He was really instrumental in taking Lake Superior State University from a satellite campus of another university to becoming a standalone public regional university. And in my career at Western Illinois University, it&#8217;s also a public regional university, and they are the workhorse of higher education. They are drivers of economic development. They are often the university of first opportunity for first generation students. And you can get an amazing education at a regional public university. So to come back and be given this award by somebody who also championed regional public universities, it&#8217;s a great honor and a privilege. And ultimately, I would just say Lake State is awesome.<\/em><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Paul Ripley Award for Young Alumni<\/strong>:<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3414 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Berlinger-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Berlinger-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Berlinger-670x1024.jpg 670w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Berlinger-768x1174.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Berlinger-1005x1536.jpg 1005w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Berlinger-1340x2048.jpg 1340w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Berlinger-100x153.jpg 100w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Berlinger-864x1320.jpg 864w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Berlinger-1200x1834.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Berlinger-scaled.jpg 1675w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/>Marisa Berlinger &#8217;13<\/strong>, is an accomplished attorney whose early career includes clerking for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and now litigating complex commercial cases at Morgan, Lewis &amp; Bockius LLP in Seattle, where she also contributes significant pro bono work. A first-generation college graduate, she remains closely connected to LSSU by establishing a scholarship for business students and attributing her academic inspiration to the strong faculty mentorship she received. Her path to the legal profession continued through the University of Michigan Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor in 2016. Marisa described how, after excelling in her first year of law school (at a different law school in Ann Arbor), she pursued her goal of transferring to the University of Michigan Law. With help from a former classmate who connected her to the dean of admissions, she ultimately received a personal call confirming her acceptance \u2014 a moment she remembers with excitement and pride.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u201c<\/span><em>Without having graduated from Lake State and later Michigan Law, I am sure, 100% sure, that I wouldn&#8217;t have had the privilege or the opportunity to do many of the things that led me to stand before you today,<\/em>&#8221; said Marisa. &#8220;<em>So I just wanted to tell you that story because to me, everything comes back to community, and the community here at Lake State and in Sault Ste. Marie is an incredibly formidable and devoted one.<\/em><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u201c<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Athletic Hall of Fame:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3415 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Huffman-Wise-183x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"183\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Huffman-Wise-183x300.jpg 183w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Huffman-Wise-623x1024.jpg 623w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Huffman-Wise-768x1261.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Huffman-Wise-935x1536.jpg 935w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Huffman-Wise-1247x2048.jpg 1247w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Huffman-Wise-100x164.jpg 100w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Huffman-Wise-864x1419.jpg 864w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Huffman-Wise-1200x1971.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Huffman-Wise-scaled.jpg 1559w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 183px) 100vw, 183px\" \/>Lee Ann (Huffman) Wise &#8217;83,<\/strong> was a standout two-sport athlete at Lake Superior State College from 1979 to 1983, setting the all-time basketball record for career assists (592), the single-season assists record (190), and scoring 1,147 career points while earning multiple athletic honors. She also lettered in softball as a freshman and was recognized as a Clifford Everett Most Valuable Athlete, Top Defensive Player, Terry McDermott Outstanding Freshman, and GLIAC Honorable Mention. After her time at LSSC, she went on to a long career in education and coaching.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u201c<em>I&#8217;ve had the privilege to play with some amazing women,<\/em>&#8221; Lee Ann recalled. &#8220;<em>At the time, we didn&#8217;t know where we were headed, but we fully took advantage of the opportunity we were given. We became doctors, lawyers, educators, business leaders, coaches, mothers, grandmothers, and role models. This gave us the opportunity to use skills and life lessons we gained while at LSSC.<\/em>&#8220;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3416 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cheynet-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cheynet-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cheynet-729x1024.jpg 729w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cheynet-768x1079.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cheynet-1094x1536.jpg 1094w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cheynet-1458x2048.jpg 1458w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cheynet-100x140.jpg 100w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cheynet-864x1213.jpg 864w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cheynet-1200x1685.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cheynet-scaled.jpg 1823w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/>Jerry Cheynet<\/strong>, served as head coach of Lake Superior State College\u2019s wrestling program from 1969 to 1974, transforming a winless first team into a powerhouse that won three consecutive NAIA District 23 Championships and consistently placed in the top 20 nationally. His tenure included an undefeated 1972\u201373 season, multiple individual champions, and standout athletes who earned NAIA and NCAA honors. After LSSU, Cheynet enjoyed a 22-year coaching career at Virginia Tech, becoming the school\u2019s all-time wins leader in wrestling and also coaching soccer and golf.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u201c<em>It\u2019s been a honor to be back at Lake Superior and to see the wrestlers who did all the work\u2014without them, none of this would have been possible,<\/em>\u201d said Jerry.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3417 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/1972-73-Wrestlers-300x188.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/1972-73-Wrestlers-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/1972-73-Wrestlers-1024x641.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/1972-73-Wrestlers-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/1972-73-Wrestlers-1536x961.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/1972-73-Wrestlers-2048x1282.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/1972-73-Wrestlers-100x63.jpg 100w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/1972-73-Wrestlers-864x541.jpg 864w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/1972-73-Wrestlers-1200x751.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>1972-73 Lake Superior State College Wrestling Team <\/strong>delivered a historic perfect season, going 13-0, winning the GLIAC Championship, and finishing 11th at the NAIA National Championships \u2014 the best national result in program history at the time. Led by All-Americans Jim Fallis, the NAIA champion at 158 lbs, and Jim Leyndyke, the national runner-up at 126 lbs, the Lakers also secured their third straight NAIA District 23 title. Their dominant performance under Coach Jerry Cheynet remains one of the defining achievements in Laker athletics.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">&#8220;They put Lake Superior State on the map, wrestling-wise. These guys got it done for us,&#8221; commented Bill Crawford, who presented the team members in attendance with their awards, which included Jim Fallis, Jim Leyndyke, Mark Johnson, Frederic Johnson, Tom Black and Coach Jerry Cheynet.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3418 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cernich-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cernich-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cernich-662x1024.jpg 662w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cernich-768x1189.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cernich-992x1536.jpg 992w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cernich-1323x2048.jpg 1323w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cernich-100x155.jpg 100w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cernich-864x1337.jpg 864w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cernich-1200x1857.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/11\/Cernich-scaled.jpg 1654w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/>Kord Cernich &#8217;90<\/strong>, was a key contributor to one of Lake Superior State\u2019s greatest hockey eras, helping lead the Lakers to their first NCAA national championship in 1988 and earning multiple All-CCHA and All-American honors. Known for his toughness and reliability, he set an NCAA record with 175 consecutive games played before signing professionally with the New York Rangers and enjoying a long career in North American minor leagues. Looking back, Kord described his years at LSSU as the most enjoyable of his life and expressed deep gratitude for the friendships and championship memories made along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Kord reflected on the long-term impact of that championship, sharing this story in his acceptance speech:\u00a0\u201c<em>At Coach Jackson\u2019s retirement party last year, a few of us were talking with Keith Aldridge and his wife. She told us they met at LSSU, and it made me wonder \u2014 what if we hadn\u2019t won that national championship? Maybe he never comes to the Soo. Maybe his son isn\u2019t named Laker. So when people say, \u2018It\u2019s just a game,\u2019 I beg to differ. We changed lives that day.<\/em>\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Congratulations to all the 2025 recipients and inductees for their incredible achievements and contributions to the LSSU community!<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Submit your nominations for the Alumni Association Awards anytime through the Alumni Relations Office or by using the online <a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"https:\/\/alumni.lssu.edu\/awards-recipients-2023\/alumni-recognition-nomination-form\/\">Alumni Nomination Form<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Honor those who shaped Laker athletics by nominating a deserving individual for the LSSU Athletic Hall of Fame by visiting the the <a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"https:\/\/alumni.lssu.edu\/awards-recipients-2023\/lssu-athletic-hall-of-fame\/\">LSSU Hall of Fame webpage<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lake Superior State University and the LSSU Alumni Association honored 11 remarkable individuals during the 2025 Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held as part of Great &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":3261,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14,8,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1961"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1961"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1961\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakerlog.lssu.edu\/fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}