Samford University has named the five outstanding alumni who will be honored as the 2022 alumni awards recipients. The honorees will be celebrated during Homecoming weekend, which will take place Nov. 4-5.
Alumnus of the Year
Lynn Boggs ’79 has been named Alumnus of the Year. Boggs, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business from Brock School of Business, is the co-founder and chief executive officer of University FanCards, the nation’s leading provider of collegiately licensed prepaid products. He is also a member of the Samford Board of Overseers, the Bulldog Club and the Dean’s Advisory Board for Brock School of Business.
Alumnus of the Year recipients are distinguished in their professional careers, community and church involvement, and in their ongoing service to and financial support of Samford.
Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year
Chad Trull ’05 has been named Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year. Trull is the founder and chief executive officer of HighFive Healthcare. He graduated from Samford with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for Brock School of Business. Prior to founding HighFive Healthcare, Trull served as the founder, CEO and chairman of the board of Hospicelink from 2011 to 2018.
Recipients of the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award are between the ages of 21 and 39, are distinguished in their professional careers, community and church involvement, and in their ongoing support of Samford.
Humanitarians of the Year
Lindy Cleveland ’14 and Susan ’77 and Ken Berg ’77, ’81, were named the 2022 Humanitarians of the Year.
Cleveland is the founder and executive director of Unless U, a nonprofit that seeks to provide faith-based continuing education and teach developmental, life and vocational skills to adults with disabilities. It also allows students who have special needs to have a college-like experience. Inspired by her brother, Jordan, who has Down Syndrome, Cleveland began Unless U during her senior year at Samford in order to create an organization that supports adults with developmental disabilities. She graduated from Orlean Beeson School of Education with a Bachelor of Arts in family studies.
Susan and Ken Berg are the music directors of the Birmingham Boys Choir, which is made up of four ensembles of boys who are 8-18 years old and performs all over the world. Ken, a published composer, has served as the choirmaster since 1978. In 2021, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Educators Association Hall of Fame. Ken graduated from the School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Arts in music education and a Master of Music Education.
Susan directs the choir’s Junior Choristers ensemble and serves as an accompanist for the Concert Choristers. She has served in various offices of local music teacher’s organizations and as a church pianist and children’s choir coordinator for several area churches. Susan graduated from the School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Arts in music education.
The Humanitarian of the Year award is given to Samford graduates of true distinction, wide respect and acknowledged leadership. The recipients are recognized for having given selflessly and working tirelessly to better the lives of others and society at large by staying true to the Samford Mission.
For more information about the Alumni of the Year Awards, go to Samford’s Alumni Awards website.