ROCK ISLAND, IL (06/07/2013)(readMedia)-- At an alumni appreciation event in May, Augustana College recognized six individuals for their accomplishments. Those honored were Dr. W. Zack Bartels '98, Philip McKinley '73, Gen. John Borling '62, John Califf '62, Dr. Frederick Hemke and Dr. James Kopel.
W. Zack Bartels, of Moline, Ill., earned the Finest Under Forty Achievement Award. After graduating from Augustana, Dr. Bartels attended Nova Southeastern University, College of Optometry in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He completed his residency at the Veterans Affairs hospitals in Chicago, and served an externship at the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona during his final year of optometry school. Dr. Bartels joined Eye Surgeons Associates in 2004 as a doctor of optometry. He has developed a shadowing program for Augustana's pre-optometry students. In addition, he coordinates student internships at Eye Surgeons and is a part-time instructor in Augustana's cadaver lab.
John Califf, of Rock Island, Ill., earned the Richard A. Swanson Humanitarian Award. After graduating from Augustana, Califf received a master's degree from the University of Iowa. His career included working for Bethany Home in Moline, Ill.; 17 years with Lutheran Social Services of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico; and serving as a negotiator to the South Vietnamese government on behalf of international adoption agencies. He personally escorted more than 50 children to the United States for adoption into permanent homes. Califf was co-founder of Hand in Hand International Adoption Agency, helping place 13,000 children of all ages from 17 countries into permanent adoption homes. Gen. Borling is chairman of Ascent Exploration, an oil company, and chairs the board of Synthonics, a specialty pharmaceutical company. He is an advisor to ADKOS, a vehicle storage company, and a published author and poet, having penned Taps on the Walls. Gen. Borling also founded and chairs SOS (Service Over Self) America, a patriotic organization advocating military service for America's young men.
James Kopel, of Moline, Ill., earned the Honorary Alumni Award. Dr. Kopel retired in 1999 from Black Hawk College, Moline, Ill., after 32 years teaching business, accounting and finance. He is the founding member of the Illowa Buy States Chapter of Better Investing. Currently Dr. Kopel is employed at the Rock Island Arsenal, where he is a cost/price analyst with the Army Contracting Command. He has been deployed to Afghanistan and Kuwait. Gen. Borling is chairman of Ascent Exploration, an oil company, and chairs the board of Synthonics, a specialty pharmaceutical company. He is an advisor to ADKOS, a vehicle storage company, and a published author and poet, having penned Taps on the Walls. Gen. Borling also founded and chairs SOS (Service Over Self) America, a patriotic organization advocating military service for America's young men.
About Augustana: Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. Augustana is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 142 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.
