The Distinguished Alumni Award

Criteria for selection includes but is not limited to post-high school education, professional accomplishments, involvement in community activities and leadership. Nominees who are not selected can be re-nominated in subsequent years. If you would like to nominate someone for the award, please send the name and resume of that person’s accomplishments prior to June 1st. The nominee selected will be recognized and asked to speak at the All-Class Reunion.

2026 Recipient: Rex Schuberg

The recipient of the 2026 BRHS Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award is Rex Schuberg.

Rex graduated from BRHS in 1974. He was born and raised in Big Rapids, a true “townie”. Both of his parents graduated from BRHS, all four of his children are BRHS grads, and two of his grandchildren are currently students at BRHS. His dad played football for the Cardinals, Rex played, his son, Tyler, played, and now his grandson, Vash, plays football for the Cardinals. He continues to be a big supporter of Cardinal athletics as a former football player and track athlete and now as a grandpa.

After high school, Rex attended Ferris State University to receive his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, graduating in 1978. While at Ferris, Rex competed in Track and Field and was ranked as one of the team’s top performers. He was inducted into the Ferris State University Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame in 2025 in recognition of his track career and also as a longtime supporter of Bulldog Athletics.

The Schuberg Insurance Agency in downtown Big Rapids was started by Rex’s grandmother, Alice, in 1945. His father, Carl, joined the agency after returning to Big Rapids following his service in the Marine Corps (1946) and Rex became the third generation insurance agent serving for 40 years before retiring in 2018. His son, Tyler, is now the fourth generation Schuberg to own the Agency and carry on Alice’s pledge to provide superior service and top-notch insurance protection.

Rex grew up with a father who was very involved in the community. He instilled a strong work ethic in his children and encouraged them to give back to the community that they loved. Rex has served in many leadership roles over the years. He was president of the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Business Association as well as the Ferris Alumni Board. One of his favorite stories is serving on the Alumni Board as Ferris discussed changing from Ferris State College to Ferris State University. A long discussion centered around changing Ferris’ name to Ferris University or Ferris State University, Rex convinced the Board that the cheer of “F U” didn’t sound as good as “F S U”.

Rex has also served as Chairman of the United Way, FSU Gridiron Club, and the Jaycees Fourth of July festivities. He was the Chairman of the Big Rapids Band Shell Committee and was instrumental in ensuring its completion during the celebration of Big Rapids’ 150th Anniversary.

In addition to receiving the BRHS Distinguished Alumni Award this year, Rex has been honored with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award (FSU), by the Mecosta County Sports Hall of Fame, FSU Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame, named Agent of the Year for Michigan Association of Insurance Agents, Chamber Business Person of the Year, and received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Downtown Business Association.

Rex is a member of St. Mary/St. Paul Catholic Church. He served as Athletic Director for St. Mary School during some of the years his children attended. He enjoyed welcoming fans to the “St. Mary Coliseum” followed by a loud horse whinny to cheer on the Colts.

In his retirement years, Rex enjoys golf, traveling, attending sports events of all kinds (especially those of his grandchildren), and is still an avid skier. He is a great storyteller and you can believe most of them. He is still finding ways to give back to his community in both big and small ways and doesn’t sit in one place for very long.

Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal! Congratulations, Rex, on being recognized as our Distinguished Alumni recipient for 2026.

Past Recipients (graduation year)

2025: Linda Myers (1963) and Polly Judson, posthumously (1972)
2024: Nick Nicolas (1971) and Ed Block, posthumously (1964)
2023: Ralph Manting (1959)
2022: Emily Cramer Hancock (1971)
2021: Ken Musselman (1965)
2019: Rick Steinke (1974)
2018: Susan Wismer Bissell (1965)
2017: Mark Brejcha (1977)
2016: Neil R Tetzlaff Lt Col USAF Ret (1960)
2015: Major Kay Andrews (1956) and Bob Horan (1953)
2014: Teri L Losey (1973)
2013: Lynn DeMoss (1952)
2012: Ronald Nichols and Keith Corrigall (1952)
2011: Edward Burch (1954)
2010: Gus & Alice Jane Anderson (1940) and Tom Avey (1965)
2009: Morris Andrews (1954)
2008: Art Adleman (1950)
2007: David Michaels
2006: Deno Sellas (1949) and Nick Sellas (1950)
2005: Michael E. “Mickey” Koch (1960)
2004: Norm Turner (1951)
2003: Lawrence Root (1966)
2002: Judd D. Arnold (1949)
2001: James Rogers (1965)
2000: Agnes Jensen Mangerich (1931)
1999: Ray W. Cross (1965)
1998: Leslie Morford and James Stuck (1949)
1997: William O’Neil (1953)
1996: James Sofoulis and Maxine Arnold Sofoulis (1943)
1995: Albert Poland (1959)
1994: Pearce Lane (1949)