(ANGOLA) – A Sturgis resident recently received a special award from Trine University.

On October 1, Trine honored three distinguished alumni during their annual Touchstone and Homecoming Celebration Dinner. One of the honorees was Ned Haylett, who graduated from the school in 1972 when it was known as Tri State University. Haylett graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He was presented with the Distinguished Service Award, which is given annually to an alumnus or alumna who has performed outstanding service to society in his or her profession, personal achievement or community; and who has manifest interest in Trine University and has supported it by contributions of time, talent and money, by recruitment of students or by placement of graduates.

Following his graduation from Trine, Haylett worked for Burr Oak Took until his retirement. He has served on several boards, including the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, where he served as Board President. He has also been a board member of Domestic And Sexual Abuse Services, and the Trine Alumni Association.

Haylett is a regular supporter of Trine’s Scholarship Gala and the Books and Beyond program as well as a member of the Legacy Society. He also often participates in regional and local alumni events.

Also honored was Carl Tilmann of Dayton, Ohio, a 1987 aeronautical engineering alumnus, who received the Outstanding Achievement Award, and Garrett Day of Jackson, Michigan, a 2009 civil engineering alumnus and 2021 Master of Science in organizational leadership graduate, was honored with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. In 2018, Day was inducted into the Trine Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 2008 football team, which had a perfect regular season and earned an MIAA championship.