Ball State Honors Steve Anderson and Ron Fauquher for Lifelong Leadership and Service

At the University’s Power of Beneficence celebration, Steve Anderson and Ron Fauquher were recognized with Ball State’s Honorary Alumni and Distinguished Alumni awards for decades of civic, philanthropic, and University leadership.

For decades, Stefan “Steve” Anderson, HHD ’93, and Ronald K. Fauquher, MA ’78, have invested their time, talent, and resources into Ball State University and the Muncie community. In recognition of that service, the University recently presented them with two of its most prestigious honors.

At Ball State’s “Power of Beneficence” awards celebration during Homecoming weekend last Fall, Mr. Anderson received the Honorary Alumni Award, while Mr. Fauquher received the Distinguished Alumni Award—Ball State’s highest recognition for graduates whose character and contributions have made the world better.

“Steve and Ron are extraordinary leaders who embody Beneficence in their character and in their abiding commitment to our University and our community,” President Geoffrey S. Mearns said at the event. “For many years, their courageous and compassionate leadership and their selfless spirit have made them role models for all of us.”

Mr. Anderson, retired chairman and CEO of First Merchants Corporation, has been a central figure in the economic and philanthropic life of Muncie and East Central Indiana. A graduate of Harvard University and the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business, he led First Merchants through two decades of strategic growth while championing community investment and regional development. He served as chair of the civic committee which founded Muncie’s Community Foundation.

His service to Ball State includes chairing Wings for the Future, Ball State’s first capital campaign, leading the campaign for the Ball Honors House, and chairing the Ball State University Foundation Board of Directors. He was a cofounder of the Miller College Executive Advisory Board and served as its first chair. He also played leadership roles in subsequent Ball State campaigns and continues his involvement with Our Call to Beneficence: The Campaign for Ball State University as a trusted advisor and advocate.

“Receiving this recognition is so meaningful to me because of the great esteem I have for Ball State,” Anderson says. “The University has been a center in my life for 50 years, a gift to our family, and a reason we are in Muncie today.”

Mr. Fauquher’s path to the Distinguished Alumni Award began when he earned his master’s degree in management, finance, and economics from Ball State in 1978. He went on to co-found Ontario Systems, which grew into one of Indiana’s largest software companies, employing hundreds and setting a national standard for accounts receivable management software. Later, he helped lead the acquisition and growth of Boyce Systems, extending his impact on technology and local government services across the state.

Just as significant is Mr. Fauquher’s record of service. He has held key leadership roles with the Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, the George and Frances Ball Foundation, the Muncie Innovation Connector, Westminster Village, Ivy Tech Community College, A Better Way, Meridian Health Services, and many other organizations. His volunteer leadership has earned recognition, including The Star Press Person of the Year award, the David Sursa Leadership Award, and the John and Janice Fisher Governance Award from Ball Brothers Foundation.

“I marvel that anyone would put me on a list with the remarkable people who have received this award,” Mr. Fauquher said. “I am deeply appreciative to be among them. Whatever I’ve been able to do has always been about serving this community and helping others succeed.”

Together, Mr. Anderson and Mr. Fauquher illustrate the spirit of Our Call to Beneficence, a comprehensive effort to expand student opportunity, enhance academic excellence, and strengthen the University’s impact in Indiana and beyond. Their leadership, mentorship, and philanthropy—on campus and across the region—continue to open doors for future Cardinals.

“As we advance Our Call to Beneficence, Steve and Ron remind us what it looks like when talent, generosity, and a deep sense of responsibility come together,” President Mearns said. “Their lives are a powerful testament to the difference our graduates and friends can make.”