National leadership honor society awards Grand Valley benefactor high honor

Ralph W. Hauenstein, Grand Valley benefactor and namesake of the university’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, was formally presented with a high honor from the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society.

Hauenstein was presented with the Laurel Crowned Circle Award by ODK’s immediate past national president, Betsy Bugg Holloway at a ceremony on August 8, 2012.

“I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this prestigious award than Col. Ralph W. Hauenstein,” said Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. “It is richly deserved. At 100 years young, Ralph’s life of leadership and service exemplifies the qualities we seek to instill in graduates of our Cook Leadership Academy and Grand Valley State University. We are so proud to share this moment with Ralph as he receives ODK’s formal recognition for outstanding leadership.”

Hauenstein was nominated for the award by Grand Valley’s circle of the organization for his exceptional leadership throughout his lifetime, and for his support of college student leadership development through the Hauenstein Center.

The Laurel Crowned Circle Award is the highest honor an individual can be given by ODK. Only 28 of the awards have been presented since the society’s founding in 1914. 

For more information, visit www.allpresidents.org.

Hauenstein recorded the video below to be played after he was recognized for his award in late July at the ODK national convention, which he was unable to attend in person.