DETROIT - The Wayne State University Alumni Association will celebrate its 75th anniversary at the annual Alumni Awards Gala on Thursday, May 19.

The event, held at the Detroit Athletic Club, also will recognize recipients of the alumni association\'s Distinguished Alumni Award, Faculty Service Award, Homer D. Strong Award, and Recent Alumni Award, as well as student recipients of the David Adamany-WSU Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship.

This year\'s honorees include:

o Retired U.S. Major General John D. Altenburg Jr. and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Philip Levine, each of whom will receive a Distinguished Alumni Award

o Assistant Professor of Education Sally Kay Roberts, who will receive the Faculty Service Award

o Mitch Ritter, retired assistant superintendent of Clintondale Community Schools, and the late Robert Byrum, founder of Sensor Manufacturing Company, each of whom will be recognized with a Homer D. Strong Award

o Attorney Michael D. Socha of Dickinson Wright PLLC, who will receive the Recent Alumni Award

The 75th anniversary celebration will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. The awards program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $35 per person and includes a strolling reception, program and valet parking. Cash bar is available. Black tie is optional. To register, visit www.alumni.wayne.edu/events or call 877-WSU-ALUM.

The Wayne State University Alumni Association has been building loyalty and support for 75 years. No matter where they are in the world, members stay connected through special events, personal and professional development, exclusive discounts, members-only publications and many other benefits. The alumni association, located in Midtown Detroit, serves 240,000 Wayne State alumni.