After raising two children and spending 18 years building a construction company with her husband, Lynn Gutman felt she was ready to go back to school and focus on her writing.
Now Gutman, 49, is graduating with a bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree in creative writing and religious studies as the Alumni Association's Outstanding Graduate from University College.
2005 Outstanding Graduate Award winners
College of Architecture and Environmental Design: Prasoon Kumar
College of Education: Sophia Smith
College of Human Services: Micah Pappas
College of Law: David Burkett
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Joanna Iacovelli
College of Nursing: Cindy Holcomb
College of Public Programs: Kenton Laffoon
College of Technology and Applied Sciences: Bryan McClure
East College: Lynn Samuels
Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering: Lubna Ahmad
Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts: Scott Macintyre
Morrison School of Agribusiness & Resource Management: Trevor Fleege
School of Global Management and Leadership: Mariela Tchobanova
W.P. Carey School of Business: Christopher Rooney
Each year since 1971, the Alumni Association has given the Outstanding Graduate Award to one student in each college who, through a variety of commitments to the University, has had a positive impact on ASU. Fifteen other students also received the award.
Some of Gutman's recent projects include helping develop a literacy program at the Douglas prison, developing a memoir-writing workshop for senior citizens, serving as a member of the selection committee for featured faculty in ASU's Last Lecture series and teaching writing in the United Arab Emirates last summer.
"I've always been a big proponent of sharing what you know," she said.
Gutman is at her best when teaching or working with other people, said Lynn Nelson, an associate professor of English at ASU. Nelson runs the Young Adult Writing Project, a summer writing program that serves Valley teens, where Gutman has taught.
"She's very outgoing in that she's always more concerned about other people than about herself," Nelson said. "If anybody is worthy of that award, [Gutman] is."
Gutman said she was "a bit overwhelmed" to receive the award because she is not someone who seeks recognition.
"The whole thing just really took me by surprise," she said.
After graduation, Gutman plans to pursue a master's degree in creative writing through a distance learning program out of California and stay active in the Phoenix area by continuing to teach.
"I really think it's important to not just go to your classes," she said. "It made me feel like I was a contributing member of the community."
Reach the reporter at elias.arnold@asu.edu.
ONLINE EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was modified April 12. The name of the award winner from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design was misstated and misspelled as Kumar Prasson. The correct spelling is Prasoon Kumar.
