By University Relations

Governor Davis from Muncie and Jeffrey Simnick, a Vincennes native, honored

November 8, 2008

VINCENNES, IND. - Two Vincennes University graduates received Faculty Citations at a Saturday Homecoming Brunch at Green Activities Center. They include Governor Davis from Muncie and Jeffrey Simnick, a Vincennes native now residing in Indianapolis.

From left, Governor Davis and Jeffery Simnick discuss memories of their student days at Vincennes University following a Homecoming Brunch at Green Activities Center on Saturday.  Both Davis and Simnick received VU Faculty Citation awards in recognition of their achievements. Davis is from Muncie and Simnick is a Vincennes native who now lives in Indianapolis.

After working as a job counselor for 23 years, Governor Davis formed the blues band, “Governor Davis and the Blues Ambassadors” with Steve Robbins in January, 1991. In addition to earning wide popularity in live performances, the band has been featured on television in Indiana Tourism Division promotions and on the PBS program “Across Indiana”. In addition to his VU degree, Davis also holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University.

“My whole personality and my whole life changed when I came to VU. I was not the person I am today. Everything I have accomplished goes right back to here. Dean (Jerry) Gegenheimer, Dean (Phillip) Summers, and Dr. (Isaac) Beckes always told me I would do great things. I thought they were crazy but they saw something in me—they saw good things—and now I know they knew what they were talking about. I’m proud to say I have done a lot of things because of Vincennes. I thank you for that,” Davis said.

A Vincennes native, in 1978 Jeffery Simnick became the first VU student to graduate from the University of Notre Dame. After receiving his law degree from Indiana University, Simnick began a legal career that included service in the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Indiana. In 2000, he became an assistant corporation counsel in the Office of Corporation Counsel for the City of Indianapolis.

“I am blessed because in 1974 I graduated from Lincoln High School and came to VU. I worked at K-Mart for 40 hours per week while I pursued classes in pre-law. I was fortunate to meet Dr. Chelsea Lawlis, who was my pre-law advisor, and I shared my dream of going to Notre Dame. He encouraged me to apply because I needed to go to the next level. If it had not been for Vincennes my life would have been substantially different. VU gave me the opportunity to succeed and that has been the basis of my professional career,” Simnick said.

Simnick advised students in the audience to follow their dreams and go beyond what they think they can achieve. “It can all start here at VU,” Simnick said.