2024 Ferris State Distinguished Alumni

The Ferris State University Distinguished Alumni Award is bestowed on individuals who demonstrate leadership and service to their profession, community, service organizations and alma mater. We offer our congratulations to the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients below who help guide our multicultural society toward the celebration of our own diversity through their accomplishments within their vocations and avocations. A full feature video of each winner is linked on their name below. 

 

Sylvester Hester

Sylvester Hester is founder and CEO of LM Manufacturing, a joint venture between Magna International and LAN Manufacturing. He graduated from Ferris State University's Plastics Engineering program in 1987. With more than 30 years of experience in the automotive and aerospace supply chain industries, he has held many key leadership positions, including president of ARD Logistics and co-founder of Key Logistics. He also served as chairman and CEO of Grupo Antolin Primera Automotive Systems. Throughout his career, Hester has grown companies and expanded their services across diverse industries. Today, LM Manufacturing has 650 employees and specializes in manufacturing, assembly and supply chain management. 

An active member of several professional organizations, Hester has received numerous awards for his contributions. His accolades include Employer of the Year from Detroit@Works, SER-Metro Detroit; the 2023 DRIVEN Vanguard Award; and the Corp! Magazine Diversity Employer of the Year Award. Hester also was recognized with the 2023 MBE Luminary of the Year Award form the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council. His commitment to diversity, mentorship, and community engagement has garnered widespread recognition, reflecting his dedication to fostering inclusive business practices and leadership. 

Outside of his professional achievements, Hester is deeply committed to creating social change and opportunity. He founded the Expose to Inspire(E21) program, which has connected more than 200 Detroit Public School students with mentorship and career opportunities and provided 14 students with employment. He is a member of the Tuskegee University Board of Trustees and serves Detroit organizations including the Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Benjamin Carson High School ADvisory Council. At Ferris State, he supports the Black Alumni Association and mentors graduates through internship programs. 

 

Paul Hodge

Dr. Paul Hodge is an accomplished optometrist and the founder of Allegan Eyecare PC, where he has served the Allegan, Michigan community since 1989. A graduate of Ferris State University's College of Optometry in 1985, Hodge has built a reputation for excellence in his field, opening and expanding his practice, and even welcoming his daughter, Dr. Amanda Hodge-Berranen (MCO 2011), to the practice as a fellow optometrist. In 2022, Hodge-Berranen purchased the practice, and, together, they deliver top-tier services, ensuring that generations of patients benefit from their expertise. 

Hodge has been highly active in professional organizations throughout his career. He served in multiple roles on the Michigan Optometric Association Board of Trustee,s eventually becoming its president. He has also contributed to the American Optometric Association, serving on its Fund for Disaster Relief Committee and holding leadership roles on committees such as the Meetings and Member Experiences Committee. His work with the North Central Optometric Council and the American Board of Optometry further highlights his commitment to advancing the field. Hodge's numerous awards include the MOA Distinguished Service Award, MOA Optometrist of the Year, and the American Optometric Association Presidents Award. He earned a fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry in 2000. 

Hodge is deeply involved in his community. He has held many leadership positions with the Lions Club, including district governor and vice council chair, earning recognition as a Lions International Melvin Jones Fellow and Lions of Michigan Service Foundation Ken Lautzenheiser Fellow. He has received the Allegan Area Chamber of Commerce Community SErvice and ana Tibbitts Legacy awards. Hodge serves on the Allegen Public Schools Board of Education and received the Allegan Public Schools School bell Award for Outstanding Service. He also serves on the Ascension Borgess Allegan Board of Trustees. With his wife, Vicki, he has established the Hodge Family Optometry Endowed Scholarship, supporting future generations of optometrists at Ferris State. 

 

James Samuels

James Samuels is a distinguished attorney with a career spanning several decades. After earning his associate degree in Legal Assisting, he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Ferris State University in 1977. He then pursued law school, where his education and early work experience gave him a significant head start. Elected prosecuting attorney of Mecosta County, he served for 12 years, sharing his expertise with more than 600 new prosecutors through training programs. Samuels later returned to private practice, where he was elected to serve on the boards of both the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan and the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, a rare accomplishment. He also created the acclaimed "A is for Attorney" program, which has trained more than 900 defense attorneys. 

Samuels' considerable professional honors include the Kim Cahill Leadership Award from the State Bar of Michigan for his innovative training programs, and he has been honored by both PAAM and CDAM for his commitment to legal education. His distinction of being recognized by both prosecutorial and defense attorney associations reflects his unique impact on Michigan's legal landscape. His work with the Cooley Innocence PRoject and the University of Michigan Innocence Clinic has helped exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals, earning him the prestigious Justice for All and the Right to Counsel awards from CDAM. 

In addition to his legal career, Samuels has been a dedicated community advocate. His tireless work to support indigent defense reform in Michigan contributed to the creation of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission. He also has volunteered extensively with combat veterans suffering from PTSD. Samuels also is a leading supporter of Big Rapids-area community theater, and is the creator and director of of Artworks' Intimate Theater, producing high-quality plays for more than 14 years. Deeply connected to Ferris State, Samuels and his family have established the Samuels Family Scholarship for social work students. 

 

Scott Sanders

Scott Sanders is an accomplished printing and graphics professional with more than 25 years of industry experience. Graduating form Ferris State University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Printing Management, he began his career with Heidelberg, the world's largest printing machine manufacturer. His successful tenure there saw him achieve multiple distinctions, including top regional sales representative and President's Club winner. Currently serving as executive for major accounts, North America, at HP Inc., Sanders manages some of the company's largest worldwide clients and has been recognized as a top representative and Diamond Club winner for his performance. 

Sanders has been a dedicated member of various professional organizations throughout his career. He has served as President of the Ann Arbor Litho Club and has been involved with the Detroit Craftsman's Club. His leadership within these organizations has allowed him to promote Ferris State University and its programs, ensuring that the Printing Management program remains relevant and aligned with current industry standards. His commitment to the craft also is reflected in his work connecting Ferris State students with internships and employment opportunities through industry events and networks.

Sanders also actively serves his community. He has worked with the Big Brothers Big Sisters for more than eight years, serving as a mentor and fundraiser, and was named Big Brother of the Year in 2009. He also serves as a mentor for his sons' Boy Scouts Troop. A four-time Ironman triathlon finisher and two-time Boston Marathon qualifier, Sanders also volunteers with My Team Triumph, helping individuals with disabilities experience the joy of racing. Sanders and his wife, Staci, established the Scott and Staci Sanders Endowment Scholarship in 2003, to support Ferris State students pursuing careers in printing and graphics.