Three BYU-Idaho alumni honored with awards

www.byui.edu/alumni

Three Brigham Young University-Idaho alumni were honored with awards at a special luncheon held in conjunction with Spirit Week and the Alumni Ambassador Training Conference. 

Kelly Duffin received the Outstanding Young Alumni 2006 award, David V. Hinck was named Outstanding Educator 2006, and Darrel L. Hammon received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Accomplishment 2006.

Duffin was born in Pocatello, Idaho to parents who are both graduates of Ricks College.  Duffin later moved to Shoshone, Idaho where he graduated from high school in 1987.  After high school, he attended Ricks College before serving a mission to Milan, Italy.

After his mission Duffin continued his studies, serving as Executive Vice President of the Associated Students of Ricks College. He was also selected as Man of the Year.  He graduated from Ricks College in 1992 and later earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Utah State University and the University of Minnesota.

Duffin is currently employed at the Dominican Hospital as Chief Operating Officer.  He also serves on the Boards of Stanford University and Dominican Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Services and Santa Cruz Surgery Center.

Duffin holds many fond memories working with students and clubs in his role as ASRC Executive Vice President.  He and his wife, Sharla Braithwaite, have continued their service to BYU-Idaho by serving as Alumni Ambassadors in northern California.  They are the parents of four children.

Hinck was born in Logan, Utah and later moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho.  After graduating from Idaho Falls High School, he served a mission to Oslo, Norway.  He pursued his education in music at Ricks College, graduating in 1988.  He later earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Utah State University and Brigham Young University.

Hinck began his experience as a music educator at the Oslo American School in Norway while serving as a missionary.  He continued his service as a high school teacher for four years at Beaver High School in Utah.  Hinck later worked for one year as a graduate assistant to Dr. Mack Wilburg at BYU.

Hinck just completed his eleventh year as Director of Choirs for Madison High School in Rexburg.  He has served as the Choral Vice President and is currently President of Gem State Music Educators.  Hinck has also served as an adjunct music faculty for Ricks College/BYU-Idaho for the past ten years.  Hinck is married to Julie Anne Thompson.  They are the parents of six children.

Hammon was born in Hamilton, Mont. and is the third of eight children.  His family later moved to southeast Idaho, where he attended public schools in Lewisville and Menan.  Hammon graduated from Rigby High School.  After high school he served a full-time mission to the Chile Concepcion and Osorno Missions.

Hammon attended Ricks College in 1978.  He later earned undergraduate degrees from Boise State University and the University of Idaho.  Hammon earned a master's in English Education from Boise State University and his PhD from the University of Idaho.

His professional career as an educator began as the Chairperson of the English Department at Mountain Home Junior High School.  Dr. Hammon later served as the coordinator and manager of the Adult Basic Education Division at Eastern Idaho Technical College (EITC).  While at EITC he was also the Acting Dean of Instruction. 

Hammon later moved to Lewiston, Idaho where he was the Associate Vice-President for Extended Programs at Lewis-Clark State College.  For the past five years he has been the President of Miles Community College in Miles City, Mont.  In July 2006 he assumed his new role as President of Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyo.  Hammon and his wife, Joanne Boltz, are the parents of two daughters.