alumni

Alumni Awards Nominations

Any interested person may submit a nomination for a University of Findlay Alumni Award.

Award Nomination Process

Any interested person may submit a nomination for a University of Findlay Alumni Award.

General Criteria:

  1. Current members and families of the Alumni Board of Governors are ineligible.
  2. Award nominations are reviewed by the Recognition Committee of the Alumni Association Board of Governors.
  3. Award nominations will be carried over for three years, if not selected the first year of nomination consideration or until relevant age limitation is reached.
  4. Recipients are expected to return to campus to attend the awards ceremony for which they are being honored.

All nomination forms and materials submitted will be provided to the Recognition Committee of the Alumni Board of Governors.

This year, all nominations must include the following and are due by February 28, 2027​, to be considered for Homecoming 2027.​

  1. Completed nomination form by nominator (link below)
  2. Supporting information:
    1. Resume or professional vita
    2. Articles by or about the nominee​
    3. Letter of reference
    4. Any other documents supporting the nomination​

Distinguished Alumni Award

This award shall be presented to members of the Alumni Association who, by their personal example, have exhibited the highest standards of individual achievement in professional and/or personal endeavors; who have demonstrated loyalty and support of this institution and who, through dedicated service, have contributed to the advancement of all humanity. No candidate shall be considered eligible for the award prior to the completion of 10 years’ status as an alumnus/a of this institution. 

Click the button below to nominate a Findlay graduate for the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Year      Name and Graduation Year

1962   Grace Loucks Elliott ’10† 
1962   Glenn E. Stout ’42* 

1963   Harold V. Hodnick ’44† 

1964   Ivan E. Frick ’49* 

1965   Harold P. “Herk” Wolfe ’54 

1966   Dr. Tennyson Guyer ’34*† 

1967   Dr. Adam D. Beittel ’22*† 
1967   James E. Wagner ’21† 

1968   Theodore R. Federici  ’50† 
1968   Tell Thompson  ’12† 

1969   Dr. Harold H. Loucks  ’14† 
1969   C. Leslie Updegraph  ’23† 

1970   Carl E. Bartch  ’44† 
1970   John J. Trojan  ’48† 

1971   H. Barkey Hovis  ’02† 
1971   Rhoda S. Kauffman  ’41 

1972   Elizabeth Caskey Clopper  ’36† 
1972   John W. Grimm  ’14† 

1973   Dr. August C. Mazza  ’41 

1973   Dr. Richard E. Wilkin  ’52* 

1974   Neil H. Dishon  ’50 
1974   Dr. Robert E. Fuller  ’22*† 

1975   Richard E. Barchent, Jr.  ’65 
1975   Dr. Larry G. White  ’59*† 

1976   Odell C. Barry, Jr.  ’65 

1977   Dr. Herbert O. Now  ’27† 
1977   Dr. Richard S. Phillips  ’35*† 

1978   Dr. Esther Cook Leathers  ’31*† 
1978   Dr. James D. Houdeshell  ’53 

1979   Horace L. Arment  ’26† 

1979   I. Fern Wayne Castile  ’29† 

1980   Ida Hickernell  ’08† 
1980   Dr. Donald S. Renninger, Sr.  ’40*† 

1981   Dr. Elza L. Beery  ’31*† 
1981   Raymond L. Funk  ’53 

1982   Harry B. Brown  ’14† 
1982   W. Max Nonnamaker  ’51 

1983   Dr. Arthur Eakin  ’33*† 
1983   Dr. Marvin E. Monroe  ’42*† 

1984   Donna Coffman Crosby  ’60 
1984   Robert E. Crosby  ’61 
1984   Maurice M. Sayre  ’46† 

1985   Donald E. Badertscher  ’64 
1985   Sara M. Flowers Georges  ’46† 

1986   Rev. Javan R. Corl  ’50† 

1986   Kermit R. Hainley  ’63 
1986   Twila Jean Beery Hainley  ’59 

1987   Dr. John R. Alberti  ’56 
1987   John C. Hutson  ’48† 

1988   Dr. Richard W. Malcolm  ’55*† 
1988   Dr. Ruthanna Maxwell Weber  ’36* 

1989   Dr. G. Richard Kern  ’54 
1989   Dr. Robert Kragalott  ’50† 

1990   Dr. Victor W. Binkley  ’61 
1990   Dr. John W. Breneman  ’60 
1990   Helen O. Reimund  ’26† 

1991   C. James Grothaus  ’57† 
1991   Morris A. Now  ’50 
1991   Garver Oxley  ’41† 
1991   Dr. C. Darrell Prichard  ’55* 
1991   Richard L. Wink  ’52 

1992   Elsie M. Daubert  ’46† 
1992   Ruth Hudson Frick  ’50† 
1992   Dal Lawrence  ’54 
1992   Barbara Eakin Meyers  ’63 
1992   J. Duane Philipp  ’59 
1992   Judge Robert D. Walker  ’49 

1993   Dr. Kenneth E. Boldosser  ’41* 
1993   Richard M. Carter  ’50† 
1993   Marilyn Rayle Kern  ’55 

1993   G. Ronald Philipp  ’59 
1993   Robert L. Purdy  ’48† 
1993   Dr. Patrick W. Rooney  ’58*† 

1994   Dr. Kathleen Child Crates  ’69 
1994   John A. Dreisbach  ’43 
1994   Ignatius “Iggy” Mancuso  ’45† 
1994   Robert D. Yoder  ’44† 

1995   Dr. A. Gail Dunn  ’52* 
1995   Marilyn Reames Dunn  ’65† 
1995   Jeanne Wolfe Kelly  ’71 

1996   Wayne E. Gosnell  ’74 
1996   Ann L. Ruscilli  ’65 
1996   L. Jack Ruscilli  ’66 

1997   Dr. Thomas B. Donnell  ’70* 
1997   H. Dean White  ’49 
1997   William W. Yoder  ’51 

1998   Richard A. Gross  ’83 
1998   Robert C. Kitzerow  ’42 
1998   John W. Neidley  ’49 
1998   Thomas E. Reynolds  ’59† 
1998   Oscar C. Schultz  ’49 

1999   Martha Katzer Grothe  ’48 
1999   Jim McIntosh  ’65 
1999   Cam Roberts Taylor  ’67 
1999   Richard VanHorn  ’70 

2000   Dr. Jeanne Stuckey  ’86 
2000   Dr. William H. Reist  ’73 
2000   O.J. Thompson  ’48 

2001   Jonathan A. Binkley  ’63 
2001   E. David Green  ’67 
2001   Dr. Joseph E. Lewis  ’42†* 

2002   Donald Creager  ’48 
2002   Dennis E. Foster  ’67 
2002   Marjorie (McMahon) Schott  ’63 

2003   Joseph J. Camillone  ’68   
2003   Dr. Darrel Linder  ’43*   
2003   V. Ruth McDowell  ’51† 

2004   Barbara A. Meyers Binkley  ’64 
2004   Betty Helwig Biswas  ’51 
2004   Dennis A. Zahler  ’70 

2005   Dr. Stanley Swartz  ’70 

2006   Jerald F. Clark ’66    
2006   Dr. Julie McIntosh ’90   
2006   Rosaline G. Morgan ’71 

2007   Gladys Eakin ’33†  
2007   George Tuttle ’36    

2007   Joseph E. & Joanne Rockwell ’51    
2007   James Taylor ’72    
2007   Jerome (Jerry) Kanney ’74 

2008   Ron Cable ’64 

2008   A.R. Charnes ’66 
2008   Deborah (Edinger) Roberts ’71 

2008   Michael Mallett ’88 

2009   David M. Danhoff ’77 
2009   Dr. Larry G. McDougle ’63* 
2009   Jeanne M. Rustic ’87 
2009   Dr. Raeburn ’56* & Marcelene ’59 Wallen 

2010   Keith Mohr ’67 

2010   Michael Mumma ’64 
2010   Dee Dee Spraw ’00, M ’07 

2011   Greg Denecker ’94 
2011   Larry Manley ’61 
2011   Mary Ann Rohleder ’53 
2011   Pastor George Showers ’65 

2012   Luke Bartolomeo ’67 
2012   Jay Hong ’77 
2012   Debra Layport Newman ’74 
2012   Luke Levers ’51 
2012   Vernon Preston ’72 
2012   Michael Smythe ’65 

2013   Rear Admiral Edward L. Feightner ’41 
2013   Dale M. Gillespie ’59 
2013   Jeremy L. Pemberton ’96 M’97 
2013   Robert M. Pritts ’57 
2013   Benjamin E. Sapp ’93 M’95 

2014   Peter Daub ’70 
2014  Marian Lowe ’97 
2014   Michael “Mike” Murphy ’72 
2014   Joji Suzuki ’99 
2014   Billy Watterson ’96 
2015   Pamela K. Beall ’78 
2015   Dr. Jonathan Hauenstein ’03 

2015   Paul Worstell M’99 

2016  Jacob F. Froning ’64 
2016  William McIntosh ’91 
2016  Robert Nichols ’61 
2016  Bruce Ritter ’90 
2016  Ron Tulley M’04 

2017  Dale Brougher ’76 Ph.D. 
2017  Brenda Collins ’90 
2017  Thomas “Tom” Jakubiec ’73 
2017  Andrew Sprang ’00 
2017  Jerry Szymonowicz ’69 

2018 Edward Brandt ’81 
2018 JR Haley ’81 
2018 Barbara Hibschman ’66  
2018 Jennifer Smith DVM ’91 

2019 Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kathleen Cannon ’87 
2019 Dan Huss ’83 
2019 Jane McCleary ’73 
2019 Jack Mendes ’73 
2019 Jim Steffen ’94  
2020 Brent Wise ’04 
2021 Dr. Bret M. Bahn ’99 
2021 Eugene A. Fernandez ’77 
2021 Lieutenant Colonel William J. Layer ’68 
2021 Keith H. Lewis ’63 
2021 Tonya M. Thorbahn ’06  

2022 Angela Brown ’92 
2022 Annette Edgington ’93 
2022 Craig Aukerman ‘99  
2022 Janet Pilvalis ’75 
2022 Phil Lawson ’75  

2023 Stephanie M. Bishop ‘00 
2023 Catherine M. Kisseberth ‘10 
2023 Ted M. Haselman ‘17 
2023 Joan Smith Edwards ‘69 
2023 William E. Rumbold ‘74 

2024 Celia Barberena, ‘70 
2024 Thomas J. Brungard, ‘98 
2024 John F. Givens, ‘62 
2024 Charles H. Parker, ‘72 
2024 Vincent C. Passaro, ‘81 ​

2025 Robert Brougher, ‘74
2025 Earl Fletcher, ‘75
2025 Jennifer Wilson, ‘78​

 † Deceased           • Awarded posthumously          * Honorary Doctorate 

The Old Main Award

This award shall be presented to UF alumni who have demonstrated distinctive achievements in a chosen career, civic involvement and/or service to the University of Findlay and have not reached the age of 36. The recipients of this award shall still be eligible to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award at a later time.

Click the button below to nominate at Findlay graduate for the Old Main Award.

Year   Name and Graduation Year 

1993   Debra Pees Arce  ’80 ​

1994   Sue Beth Arnold  ’83 

1995   Brian Young  ’83 

1996   Curtis Davidson  ’85 

1997   Debra Solly Grener  ’83 

1998   James A. Smarkel  ’87 

1999   Benjamin E. Sapp  ’93 

2000   Jennifer Payne-White  ’87 

2001   Dr. Julie Dean McIntosh  ’90 

2002   Amy (Hix) Rogan  ’94 

2003   Marian S. Lowe  ’97 

2004   Dr. Robert G. Verb  ’96 

2005   Brant Rhoad  ’00 

2006   Dr. Jonathan Davis ’99 

2007   Candee Ellsworth ’97 

2009   Stacy L. Westfall ’97 

2010   Ryan Smith ’00, M ’07 

2011   Johnnie Jackson ’07, M ’09 

2012   Lydia Mihalik ’02 

2013   Phillip A. Riegle ’00 

2014   Audrey Stoffel ’06 MAE ’07 

2015   Scott Grant ’04 M’06 

2016   Suzanne (Lifer) Surowiec, Pharm.D. ’13 

2017   Amber Kahler ’06 

2018   Lauran Glover ’11  

2019   Thomas (Tom) Pierson, Pharm.D. ’16 

2020   Christina M. (Terry) Muryn ’14 

2021   Dr. Kyle G. Dresbach ’14   

2022   Laura Abraham ’12   

2023   Valerie K. Leskosky ’15, ‘17 

2024 Alyse Johnson Wineland, ‘11  

2025 Dallas Smith, ‘17​ ​

† Deceased           • Awarded posthumously          * Honorary Doctorate

The Gold Medallion Award

The award is presented posthumously to deceased alumni who had superb records of distinguished career accomplishments and had made outstanding contributions to their profession, to the University of Findlay and/or to their community but have not been appropriately recognized by the University prior to their death.

Click the button below to nominate a Findlay graduate for the Gold Medallion Award.

Year   Name

1993   Leo S. Rosencrans  ’13  †• 

1994   William E. Brown  ’59  †• 

1995   Ann Morrison Visnic  ’49  †• 

1996   Richard Cullen  ’38  †• 

1997   Thomas Mooney  ’46  †• 

1998   Helen Irene Now  ’28  †• 

1999   David A. Johnson   ’70  †• 

2000   Solomon Forest Berry  ’31  †• 

2001   Wayne I. Pribble  ’85  †• 

2002   Herman Alexander  ’60  †• 

2003   Anthony K. Thompson  ’88  †• 

2004   Stephen J. Loy  ’74  †• 

2005   Lee Himmeger  ’56  †• 

2006   Clark L. Fleming ’58 †• 

2007   Richard (Dick) Schaefer ’77 †• 

2008   Desmond Buford ’90 M ’99 †• 

2009   Mark Stanley Green ’70 †• 

2010   John Parthemore ’51 †• 

2011   William Flanegan ’59 †• 

2012   Barbara Ann (West) Brossia ’96 †• 

2013   David W. Sterner ’66 †• 

2014   Geraldine “Geri” Finn ’90 †• 

2015   Dean Butler ’69 †• 

2016   Anne R. Bacon ’00, M’13 †• 

2017   Jerome “Jerry” Savoy ’66 †•  

2018   Robert Ewald ’67 †• 

2019   Earl W. DeLong ’48 †• 

2020   Frederick Joe Crates ’54 †• 

2021   Paul M. Whitson ’91 †•  

2022   Odell Barry ’65 †•  

2023   Cheryl Miller ‘71 †• 

2024 Robert R. Hayden, ‘ 62 †• ​

2025 Jeanne Wasbro, ‘66​

† Deceased           • Awarded posthumously          * Honorary Doctorate

The Arch Award

This award shall be presented to a member of the University of Findlay community who, by personal example, has demonstrated loyalty and support of this institution. The recipient of this award must have a total of 1​5 years of service to the University and must not hold a degree from the institution.

Click the button below to nominate a member of the University of Findlay community for the Arch Award.

Year    Name    

2004   Judith A. Butler 

2005   Dr. David Allen  †• 

2006   Dr. Jerry Mallett 

2007   Dr. Dwight L. Moody 

2008   Dr. Micheal Anders 

2009   Coach Richard Strahm 

2010   Barbara McCrory Snyder 

2011   Sharon Milligan 

2012   Elaine Markon 

2013   Jack M. Taylor 

2014   Dr. C. Richard Beckett 

2015   Dr. Ray McCandless 

2016  Diana Montague, Ph.D. 

2017  Carole Spurgeon 

2018 Linda Peck DVM  

2019 George Whitson  

2020 The Honorable Jo Ann Davidson  

2021 Nondace N. Campbell  

2022 Clifford Cook  

2023 Chuck Bills  

2024 Dennis E. Bishop 

2025 William Doyle, Ph.D.​​

† Deceased           • Awarded posthumously          * Honorary Doctorate

Honorary Alumni Award

The award shall be presented to individuals who are not graduates of the University of Findlay and who have made significant contributions to the University’s welfare, reputation and prestige. Awards may be granted at any time during the academic year and up to two annually.

Click the button below to nominate an individual for the Honorary Alumni Award.

​Year   Name

2019:  L. Don Manley2019:  Dr. C. Richard Beckett

2020: Duane and Kathy Jebbett​​

2021 Dr. Paul T. Davis​