Indiana University East alum Greg Chamness will receive the Indiana University Alumni Association President’s Award this Friday at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. Chamness is one of eight IU alumni being honored with the award in recognition of their volunteer service to IU and to their communities.

The President’s Award was established in 1993 and is the highest award given by the Alumni Association to a volunteer leader. In addition to Chamness, recipients include A. Bruce Burkart, of South Bend; Debra L. Fawcett, of Kokomo; James N. Grandorf, of Bloomington; Jennifer McIntosh-Elkins, of Lowell; Deborah A. McMahan, of Fort Wayne; C. Diego Morales, of Sellersburg; and Roselle Partridge, of Indianapolis.

“The IUAA President’s Award recognizes these unique and gracious individuals who work hard on behalf of Indiana University,” said Tom Martz, BS’71, president and CEO of the IU Alumni Association. “For that, we offer our thanks and heartiest congratulations.”

Chamness completed a bachelor of general studies degree from IU East in 1984. As early as the late ’70s, Chamness began working with the IU Alumni Association as a member of the Wayne County Alumni Club.

Terry Wiesehan, IU East Alumni Association director, said Chamness has been dedicated to the campus and its future.

“Greg’s presence once again on our board is such a remarkable asset. His continuous dedication is truly admirable. I am exceedingly grateful for Greg’s advice and committed service to the IU East Alumni Association and the IU East Campus,” Wiesehan said. “As our alma mater continues to grow and evolve, Greg has been the steadfast historian of who we were, while assisting in the guiding us to who might be.”

In 1989, he was instrumental in starting the IU East Alumni Association under the direction of then-Chancellor Charlie Nelms. He became charter president of that board and worked on several scholarship events early in its history.

In 1988, he led the effort to bring the IU Hoosiers to Richmond for a scrimmage basketball game. The proceeds benefited the library building on campus.

Chamness and his wife, Victoria, work jointly with other volunteers on the Mighty U — a program that brings elementary school students to the IU East campus to experience college and that helps plant the seed of the benefit of an IU degree. Chamness recently returned as an IU East Alumni Association board member after a few years of being an avid volunteer.
He works as the director of business development for Barnhizer & Associates Inc.