Washburn Alumni Awards

This award recognizes alumni who have made personal and professional contributions to society, demonstrated exemplary support to the Washburn University Alumni Association and the community, been of service to humanity, distinguished themselves in their careers and brought honor to Washburn through their accomplishments.

Greg Greenwood earned a bachelor of business administration in accounting from Washburn University in 1988, where he also played varsity baseball. He later completed a certificate in nuclear reactor technology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his CPA designation in 1988 and worked in public accounting with KPMG Peat Marwick and Berberich Trahan & Co.

Greenwood joined Evergy in 1993, advancing through leadership roles across finance, strategy, construction and operations. Over three decades, he served as vice president, treasurer; vice president, major construction projects; senior vice president of strategy; and ultimately executive vice president, strategy and chief administrative officer before retiring in 2022.

Greenwood has served on numerous non-profit boards and was recognized by the Capper Foundation in 2019 with their Workhorse Award and in 2023 with the Community Volunteer Award from The Junior League of Topeka. He remains active in community leadership through CASA of Shawnee County and First United Methodist Church of Topeka. A graduate of Leadership Greater Topeka and Leadership Kansas, he joined the Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation Board of Trustees in 2012 and has served in multiple leadership capacities, including board chair. He also served the Washburn University Board of Regents by chairing the 2022 search committee for Washburn University president. Greg and his wife, Jaena (Coates), ba ’89, and fellow trustee, live in Topeka and have three adult children and two grandchildren.

What are your favorite memories of Washburn University: My favorite memories at Washburn were the numerous hours spent with my baseball teammates both on the field and in those 15 passenger vans! Coach Anson recruited people from all walks of life, but they all had an interest in their education as well as baseball. Under his leadership we did well in both. I also remember the many professors and staff like Walt James and Elsie Lesser who treated you like young professionals but were also there to support you during the tough times. Many of those connections have lasted a lifetime.

This award recognizes alumni who have made personal and professional contributions to society, demonstrated exemplary support to the Washburn University Alumni Association and the community, been of service to humanity, distinguished themselves in their careers and brought honor to Washburn through their accomplishments.

Ann Hoelting, a native of Marysville, Kansas, earned a bachelor of business administration from Washburn University in 1985. While at Washburn, she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, the marching band and was the panhellenic president. She is an honorary member of Beta Gamma Sigma through Washburn’s School of Business.

After 30 years, Hoelting retired from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City where she served as a business leader for national customer billing operations, accounting, enterprise risk management, facilities management, public affairs and savings bonds as well as a number of special projects at both the Tenth District and national levels.

Hoelting has served as a trustee for Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation since 2025, on the Alumni Board from 2017-2025, and is a past president. She has also served on the Washburn School of Business Dean’s Advisory Board since 2020 and has been a member of the Washburn Women’s Venture Partners. She has and continues to lead or serve on various boards supporting the community and activities of her family.

Hoelting and her husband, Albert, bba ’85, divide their time between Shawnee, Kansas, and Lincoln, Missouri, at the Lake of the Ozarks. They have three children, with their oldest graduating from Washburn School of Law in 2018.

How has Washburn contributed to your life and career: Washburn gave me a great foundation for both my career and life through learning the fundamentals of the business discipline as well as through building life-long relationships with some who are still our dearest friends yet today. Throughout both my career and personal life, I have connected to other Ichabods on a daily basis. When I ponder the roots of the decisions I make in my daily life and my values, it often traces back to the wisdom of my various Washburn professors, student organizations or to the relationships, experiences and advice of my many Washburn friends. Several of these Washburn friends have also been a significant influence in guiding our children to their chosen professions. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if not for Washburn.

This award honors women who have distinguished themselves as teachers, instructors, administrators or benefactors at Washburn and also have given service to the community and/or their chosen professions. The award is named after suffragist, lawyer and publisher Lilla Day Monroe.

The Hon. Gwynne E. Harris Birzer was appointed to the federal bench as a United States magistrate judge on July 1, 2015. She received her bachelor of arts in criminal justice from Washburn in 1989, followed by her law degree in 1992.

Following law school, Birzer practiced law in Topeka, Kansas, as an assistant public defender, an assistant district attorney, as an assistant attorney general and in her own firm. In 2004, she relocated to Wichita, Kansas.

Birzer serves the federal court as the Tenth Circuit representative in the Federal Magistrate Judges Advisory Group. She has served on the board of governors for the Wichita Bar Association and the Kansas Bar Association and is the current president of the Federal Bar Association. She has received many honors and awards including the Kansas Women Attorneys Association’s prestigious Jennie Mitchell Kellogg Attorney Achievement Award and the Wichita Women Attorneys Association Louise Mattox Award.

She is active in her church and serves her community in a number of roles including as secretary of the board of trustees of the Kansas Leadership Center and as immediate past president of Wichita Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Birzer is currently a member of the Washburn Law Alumni Association Board of Governors and the Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation Board of Directors. She and her husband, Michael, are blessed with a 21-year-old son, Michael Jr. She is committed to helping others be the absolute best that they can be – even if they can’t see it.

What are your favorite memories of Washburn: Birzer’s favorite memories of Washburn begin with her first stepping foot on the campus, navigating Morgan Hall and having the faith to begin the journey of a life and commitment to the law that she will forever cherish. After completing her undergraduate studies at Washburn, Birzer’s cherished memories continued as she met lifelong friends while studying in the law school “Pitt” trying to decipher the rule of law in all the subjects that we as Kansans live and breathe today. Washburn is where Birzer found her WHY. She never imagined her career would be so enriched by the life-changing education she received from Washburn.

This award honors men who have distinguished themselves as teachers, instructors, administrators or benefactors at Washburn and also have given service to the community and/or their chosen professions. The award is named after Col. John Ritchie, who donated the land on which Washburn is built.

Rick Friedstrom earned his bachelor of arts in political science from Washburn University in 1973. He began working as an agent of New York Life in 1973 and was a registered representative of NYLIFE Securities, LLC, before retiring in 2015. Friedstrom’s commitment to community involvement has been vast, including service as: board member and past president of the Topeka High School Historical Society, chair of The Library Foundation Board of Trustees, past president and longtime board member of the Heart of America Alzheimer’s Association, past president of the Shawnee County Historical Society and member of the Ritchie House Project steering committee, chair of the Law and Legislative Committee for the Kansas Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, past-president of the Topeka Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and treasurer and secretary of the MacVicar Educational Foundation. He has also been a proud member of Presbytery of Northern Kansas for more than 30 years, serving 52 congregations and 3,860 members covering 29 counties in rural, urban and suburban areas of northern Kansas. He is a graduate of the Leadership Kansas class of 2000.

Friedstrom has remained dedicated to serving his alma mater, joining the Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation Board of Trustees in 1998 and has served on the development committee and as past president of the Board of Directors. He has also served as board member and past president of the Alumni Association, and was recognized in 2008 with the Ruth Garvey Fink Award honoring individuals who have furthered the mission of the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center in support of Washburn University.

This award honors recent Washburn graduates who demonstrate leadership in career or civic endeavors and loyalty to Washburn. Recipients of the award must have graduated within the past 10 years.

Keegan McElroy, a native of Olathe, Kansas, joined the team at Midwest Health in 2025, serving as associate general counsel. After earning her undergraduate degree in child, youth and family studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, McElroy obtained her juris doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in 2019. For over five years, she excelled as a family law advocate, specializing in cases involving divorce and child custody. Building on this foundation, McElroy transitioned into a corporate role, where she applies her legal expertise to support operational compliance, resident care standards and organizational growth. Her work has consistently reflected a deep commitment to justice and client well-being and she routinely demonstrates her extensive legal experience and strong dedication to community service. McElroy has been an active leader in the Topeka community, having served on the boards of the Topeka Bar Association, CASA of Shawnee County, the Sertoma Evening Club and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Foundation. In 2021, she was honored as one of Topeka’s Top “20 Under 40” by the Jayhawk Area Council. She is a graduate of the 2023 Leadership Greater Topeka class and, in the same year, was selected as the Topeka Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Lawyer.

How has Washburn contributed to your life and career: Washburn has given me a lasting sense of belonging that has remained constant throughout every stage of my life. No matter where I have lived or worked, I have always been able to find a meaningful connection back to Washburn – through people, shared experiences and a common foundation. That enduring sense of belonging has shaped how I show up both personally and professionally. It has given me the confidence to step into any room and know I belong there, and it has fostered connections that continue to support and guide me in my career. Washburn is more than a place I attended – it is a community that continues to ground me and influence who I am today, and for that I am so thankful.

This award honors recent Washburn graduates who demonstrate leadership in career or civic endeavors and loyalty to Washburn. Recipients of the award must have graduated within the past 10 years.

Zac Surritt serves as business development director at R&S Maintenance Services, where he represents the third generation of family leadership and helps guide the company’s HR, marketing, community engagement and strategic growth initiatives.

Beyond business, Surritt is a dedicated advocate for civic engagement and emerging leaders in Kansas. Through his leadership with Forge Young Talent, he launched the annual Young Professionals Advocacy Day at the Kansas Capitol and helped establish the YP Gala, creating opportunities to elevate and connect the next generation of community leaders.

Surritt’s commitment to service extends across Topeka through leadership and board involvement. He serves as the incoming president of the Sunflower Music Festival and contributes to organizations including the Topeka Human Relations Commission, Topeka Facility Managers Association and the Topeka Citizens Government Review Committee in 2025.

He was recognized as a NextGen Under 30 Kansas honoree in 2024 and is a graduate of Leadership Greater Topeka Class of 2025. In 2026, he joined the Washburn Alumni Association Board.

How has Washburn contributed to your life and career: Washburn has been one of the major drivers of my personal and professional growth. I came to Washburn as a transfer student and first-generation college student on a pre-law path, but through the advice and mentorship of faculty and staff, I found a new direction in public administration, balancing my interests in both business and public service, and discovered opportunities to get involved on campus and in the community. Coming from generations of hard-working entrepreneurs and community leaders, Washburn helped prepare me for the day when my generation steps into those shoes and builds on the foundation they created. Washburn believed in me, connected me with lifelong friends and mentors and gave me the resources and confidence to create positive change through organizations like Forge Young Talent and the broader Topeka community. Receiving the Graduate of the Last Decade award is incredibly meaningful because it reflects not only my own journey, but also the lasting impact Washburn has had on who I am and how I serve others. I will always be grateful for the experiences, opportunities and support I found at Washburn, and I will always be a proud and true Ichabod.

This award is given to individuals who are not graduates of Washburn University, but whom we recognize for their steadfast support of Washburn by way of their time, talent or treasure.

Bruce and Theresa McPherson have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to Washburn University through their generosity, leadership and vision for the future of education in northeast Kansas.

Longtime supporters of Washburn, the McPhersons have invested their time, talent and resources across the university, supporting scholarships, athletics, capital projects and, more recently, serving as lead donors to Washburn’s planned giving campaign. Their philanthropy reflects a belief in expanding opportunity and creating lasting impact for generations of students.

Bruce and his brother, Mike McPherson, founded MCP Group, formerly McPherson Contractors. The Topeka-based firm grew from a one-room office in 1972 into one of the Midwest’s leading design and construction companies. Under his leadership, the company helped shape landmark projects across the region, including Morgan Hall and Washburn University School of Law. Theresa, a retired industrial engineer, brings firsthand experience in technical and manufacturing fields to that vision.

In late 2024, Bruce and Theresa made a historic gift to benefit Washburn Institute of Technology, underscoring their shared belief in the power of technical education to strengthen Kansas’ workforce and regional economy.

What are your favorite memories of Washburn: At an early age I recognized how important Washburn University is to its students and the city of Topeka. It has grown to be the best small college in the state. Theresa and I are proud to be associated with Washburn and believe it will only continue to grow and improve. What a beautiful campus.