Alumni to Be Recognized at Homecoming

The Central Methodist University Alumni Board of Directors and Office of Alumni and Advancement invite the public to register for the 2026 Alumni Awards Brunch, as part of this year’s Homecoming activities, on Sunday, November 1.

Beginning at 11:45 a.m. in the Inman Student Center, the event will celebrate eight alumni as recipients of the Distinguished and Young Alumni Awards. A Service Award will also be given to William D. Powell, class of 1965.

Powell is one of the founding partners of the law firm of Daniel, Powell & Kiefer, LLC, practicing in the areas of workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, and bodily injury. He is also a founding member of the informal group known as “the Undistinguished Alumni” of Central, in which he has brought together generations of alumni to stay connected to and support CMU in a number of ways. Among his career accolades, Powell was selected for the Distinguished Attorney Award by the Springfield Bar in 2015 and was a founding member of the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers. He has also been involved in his community as president of the First Unitarian Universalist Church and of Ozark Greenways in the Springfield area. The 11th member of his family to attend Central, Powell has left a lasting impression on his alma mater and fellow alumni, his profession, and his community over decades of dedicated service.

This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipients include Beverly Davis Garner ’88, Jan Sunoo ’68, E.C. ’66 and Anne Walker ’67, and Larry Anderson ’67. Young Alumni Award winners this fall include Arnold Mukisa ’20 and Esther Guzan ’11.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Beverly Davis Garner ’88 is an award-winning attorney who serves as associate general counsel at Bunge North America, where she has managed claims and litigation matters for 25 years. In addition to her work, she also serves her community as a board member for the Association of Corporate Counsel and formerly as a board member for Ronald McDonald House. Garner resides in St. Louis with her husband, Mark.

Jan Sunoo ’68 retired after decades of service as a mediator, teacher, and director on a global scale. Sunoo worked for more than 20 years as a federal mediator in the United States, mediating hundreds of labor disputes and training management and union representatives of numerous major companies. He also worked with labor ministries and NGOs throughout Asia and South America. Sunoo, who helped establish the Dr. Harold Sunoo World Peace Lecture Series in honor of his father, now resides on Jeju Island in South Korea.

E.C. ’66 and Ann Walker ’67 both served the public for decades before their retirement and have been active members of the Central Alumni Association. E.C. retired as the executive director for the Texas State Teachers Association, previously serving in roles at the Missouri National Education Association and for the Texas State Senate. Anne worked with the Department of Economic Development with the Missouri Secretary of State before retiring as the economic development policy director. She served in various roles with the Missouri House of Representatives, including being voted in as the first woman to hold the position of chief clerk for the House. Both E.C. and Anne had direct influence on important policy issues throughout their careers, helping to shape their states’ futures as public servants.

Larry Anderson ’67 was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 after a storied career at every level, as an athlete, coach, official, educator, and athletic director. In his time as Central’s athletic director and later director of admissions, enrollment grew to record numbers. Anderson received various awards throughout his career and served as president of the NAIA Athletic Director Association and the Heart of America Athletic Directors. Aside from those roles and his service as a Central football coach and physical education teacher, Anderson served his community in the Fayette Rotary Club and on the church board at Linn Memorial United Methodist Church.

Young Alumni Award

Arnold Mukisa ’20 is is a software engineer, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader whose work connects technology with opportunity. Born and raised in Uganda, Mukisa’s career includes serving as a software engineer at BlackRock, and he is the founder of Gratona, an AI-native fundraising platform that helps nonprofits manage donor relationships and sponsorship programs. He also serves as chief development and strategic operations director at Uganda Counseling and Support Services, supporting work that expands access to education, healthcare, and clean water in rural Uganda. Across his work, Mukisa brings technical expertise and a commitment to service to the organizations and communities he serves.

A first-generation college graduate, Esther Guzan ’11 has dedicated her career to empowering families and protecting children. As the district manager at Synergy Services, she leads initiatives to create safer communities and provide critical resources to families in need. She is also the founder of La Morenita Mindfulness Company, a platform created to deliver culturally relevant resources to Hispanic parents and children focused on mental health and child protection. Throughout all her work, Guzan remains committed to serving her community, church, and society.