The University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College added a new feature to its annual awards ceremony that recognizes faculty, staff and alumni for outstanding achievements and impressive work throughout their career.

The annual UC Blue Ash Distinguished Awards ceremony was held on Oct. 3 on the UC Blue Ash campus. This year’s event also honored two volunteers, Grant Gilbert and Jeff Porter, who are the first to ever receive the Exceptional Volunteer Service Award. It is in recognition of their dedication to serving hundreds of students through the Mathematics Lab for more than 15 years.

“It's really nice to be recognized, but on the other hand I didn’t need that. I have too much fun doing it,” said Gilbert. He is a former emergency care physician who retired early due to hearing loss. Gilbert came to UC Blue Ash to take some classes after retiring and discovered the Mathematics Lab. Shortly after that, he began volunteering and continues to return each year because of the enjoyment he receives from helping others.

Porter also said it’s the gratitude of the students, along with his genuine love for math, that has kept him involved with the lab for so many years.

Henry Comer (UC Blue Ash ’09, UC Arts & Sciences ’11) is this year’s UC Blue Ash Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. He has excelled in business and politics after taking a different path through college.

Comer played football for UC for a few years in the 1990s after walking on to the team. He enjoyed that time but left the university before earning a degree. When he returned to school several years later, he enrolled at UC Blue Ash and found a supportive environment that made the transition back to higher education smoother than expected.