Past Messiah University Alumni Award Winners
Young Alumnus/a Achievement Award
This award recognizes an alumnus/a who has attended Messiah University within the past 15 years for significant contribution to church, vocation, community, and/or Messiah University.
- 2024 Dr. Nathaniel D.M. Jenkins ’11
- 2023 Rachel (Hepkins) Thompson, JD ’08
- 2021 Shauna L. Nefos Webb’04 2020 Postponed due to COVID 2019 Melissa (Davis) Stuebing '06
- 2018 Levi Landis ‘03
- 2017 Aaron Faro ‘03
- 2016 Angela Lykins Yeh ‘03
- 2015 Jessica ’08 and Anthony ’06 Thomas
- 2015 Matthew Zieger ‘01
- 2013 Kevin A. Driver ‘03
- 2012 Catherine L. (Huston) Palazola '03
- 2011 Chris Heisey '06
- 2010 Amanda McMillan '08
- 2009 Shannon Barkley Ilbawi '04
- 2008 Ryan Keith '02
- 2007 Tiffany Eberle Kriner '98
- 2006 Carmen McCain '99
- 2005 Peter Greer '97
- 2004 Fabienne Doucet Gibson '95
- 2003 J. Welby Lehman '93
- 2002 Carissa R. Haston '00
- 2001 Gregory '93 & Kimberly (Carmichael) '93 Thornbury
- 2000 Jonathan Young '91
- 1999 Shelly Johnston Tolo ‘90
- 1998 Glen S. Wood ‘92
- 1997 Douglas D. Glickert ‘91
- 1996 Thomas A. Bream '88
- 1995 Jennifer Patton Clancy '88
- 1994 Amy L. Sherman '87
- 1993 Eric Clancy '83
- 1992 Laura Holmes '82
- 1991 Kim A. Lawton '85
- 1990 Letha B. Zook '80
- 1989 John D. Finley '81
- 1988 Stephen McBeth '78
- 1987 David Rosentrater '79
- 1986 Marlin Benedict '76
- 1985 Trudy McGraw '76
- 1984 D. Rahn Hostetter '75
- 1983 Jonathan G. Kuttab '73
- 1982 Susan L. Zeigler '73
- 1981 John R. Eaken '72
- 1980 William H. Fite '70
- 1979 D. John & Esther Spurrier '69, '70
- 1978 Stephen J. Koepp '68 & Warren L. Hoffman '68 1977 Lucille S. Dayton '67
- 1976 Lawrence M. Yoder ‘66
Distinguished Alumnus/a Achievement Award
Recognizes a lifetime of vocational achievement in a manner that embodies the mission of the University.
- 2024 Jeffrey F. Lehman ’74
- 2023 Dennis R. Hoover PhD ’90
- 2021 Dr. Glenn Focht ‘86 2020 Postponed due to COVID 2019 Rob Parker ‘82
- 2018 Peter Greer, ‘97
- 2017 Dr. Kimathi Choma ’97 &
- Dr. Tosha Sampson Choma ‘97 2016 Marlin Benedict ‘76
- 2015 Dr. David Olsen ‘83
- 2014 Dr. Kamela K. Patton ‘85
- 2013 Kim A. Lawton ‘85
- 2012 Dr. Tony Blair '86
- 2011 Dr. N. Benjamin Fredrick '05
- 2010 Andrew Samuel '84
- 2009 David L. Parkyn '74
- 2008 Darrell Bigham '64
- 2007 Sisters, Alvera '64 & Lenora '64 Hershey Stern
- 2006 Mark Garis '60
- 2005 Robert D. Snyder '72
- 2004 Paul Carlson '50
- 2003 Nancy R. Heisey '73
- 2002 D. Ray Heisey '57
- 2001 Amy L. Sherman '87
- 2000 Ray H. Crist '16
- 1999 Jonathan G. Kuttab '73
- 1998 Philip E. Thuma '70
- 1997 E. Morris Sider '52 (UC)
- 1996 Ruth M. Blackketter '52 (UC)
- 1995 Lois M. Mitten '70
- 1994 D. Ray Hostetter '48
- 1993 Harold H. Engle '37 (MJC)
- 1992 Lois Raser '47 (MJC) '50 (UC)
- 1991 Beth Frey '39
- 1990 Fred '52 & Grace '54 Holland
- 1989 Charlie B. Byers '62
- 1988 Roger C. Sider '62
- 1987 Daniel Chamberlain '53
- 1986 Ardys Heise '49
- 1985 Leroy B. Walters, Jr. '62
- 1984 Mary Helen Haas '51
- 1983 Owen H. Alderfer '45
- 1982 John Z. Martin '37
- 1981 Albert Widjaja '65
- 1980 H. Royce Saltzman '48
- 1979 Paul S. Boyer '55
- 1978 Arthur M. Climenhaga '36
- 1977 Dwight E. Bert '42
- 1976 Henry A. Ginder '28
- 1975 P. Galen Lenhert '53
- 1974 Anna R. Engle '23
- 1973 John O. Hershey '36
- 1972 Mary G. Eshelman '27
- 1971 Kenneth B. Hoover '32
- 1970 Samuel F. Wolgemuth '36
- 1969 Henry H. Brubaker '22
- 1968 C.N. Hostetter, Jr. '22
- 1967 Ernest L. Boyer '48
- 1966 Jacob A. Long '21
- 1965 Norman A. Wingert '20
Alumni Christian Service Award
This award recognizes outstanding lifelong service or long-term effort in fulfilling the mandates of the Christian gospel to both serve and sacrifice for the needs of humanity.
- 2024 Michele E. Struss ’94
- 2023 Layne A. Lebo, DMin ’88
- 2021 Wendell Gehman ‘89 2020 Postponed due to COVID 2019 J. Ron Byler '74
- 2018 Jacob and Nancy Shenk ’58
- 2017 John Arthur Brubaker ‘59
- 2016 Jodie Smiley ‘77
- 2015 Dr. Stephen Gallaher ‘78
- 2014 Rev. Kevin T. Kelley ‘89
- 2013 Ken O. Hoke ‘70
- 2012 Bethany (Koopalethes) '97 and Ryan Bomberger '93
- 2011 Dr. Emerson Lesher '74
- 2010 Steady Moono '85
- 2009 Kenneth R. Letner '73
- 2008 Chris Book '78
- 2007 John B. Hawbaker '65
- 2006 Daniel R. Chamberlain '53 (UC)
- 2005 David '46 & Florence (Sisco) '46 Carlson
- 2004 Carl '53& Marilyn (Minter) '50/'71 Wolgemuth 2003 Kathleen Stuebing '63
- 2002 Miriam Stern '45
- 2001 Lowell D. Mann '49
- 2000 Donald R. Zook '55
- 1999 D. John Spurrier '69
- 1998 R. Donald Shafer '58
- 1997 Robert '77 & Carol '78 Geiger
- 1996 Robert K. '45 & Winifred H. '46 Worman
- 1995 Charlie B. Byers '28
- 1994 William R. Hoke '37
Alumni Appreciation Award
Recognizes an individual who has contributed to the University in an extraordinary manner (long-term professional service; significant volunteer service and/or financial contribution).
- 2024 Barry G. Goodling ’79
- 2023 Randall G. Basinger, PhD
- 2021 George and Barbara Parmer 2020 Postponed due to COVID 2019 Eldon Fry
- 2018 Dean Curry
- 2017 Dorothy and Ralph Larsen 2016 Dr. David Vadar
- 2015 Ronald Katzman, JD
- 2014 Lois Beck (Professor Emeritus) 2013 Scott A. Heintzleman ‘89
- 2012 Catherine and Theodore Prescott 2011 The Stabler Foundation
- 2010 Jim & Donna Martin 2009 Calvin G. High
- 2008 Leroy & Eunice Steinbrecher '55 (MJC) 2007 Clifford L. Jones
- 2006 J. Harold Engle '58 (UC) 2005 Paul and Laura Nisly
- 2004 Rodney & Mrs. Lorna Sawatsky 2003 D. Wayne Cassel '57
- 2002 Ronald Miller '61
- 2001 Robert '51 & Marilyn (Byer) '51 (UC) Smith
- 2000 Steve Musser
- 1999 R. Donald Shafer '58
- 1998 Ronald R. Sider '54 (MJC)
- 1997 Dorothy A. Schrag '38 (MJC)
- 1996 Alden M. Long '48 (MJC)
- 1995 Dorothy J. Gish '55 (MJC)
- 1994 Galen M. Oakes '48 (MA)
- 1993 Arthur M. Climenhaga '36 (UC)
- 1992 Audrey Hostetter '50 (MA)
- 1991 Ray Zercher '41 (MJC) 1990 Lowell D. Crandon
- 1989 Dwight E. Bert '42 (MJC)
- 1988 E. Morris Sider '52 (UC)
- 1987 Harry Hitchcock 1986 Martin H. Schrag 1985 Clyde Horst
- 1984 Kenneth B. Hoover '32 (MJC)
- 1983 Ray H. Crist '16 (MA)
- 1982 William Lynch Murray 1981 Emerson C. Frey '57
- 1980 Frances (Smith) Burkholder 1980 Hannah (Eyer) Foote '26 (UA)
- 1979 Anna E. Climenhaga '16 (MJC) 1979 Paul E. Engle
- 1978 Benjamin E. Thuma '28 (MJC)
- 1977 Miriam A. Bowers '30 (JB)
- 1976 Albert H. Engle '23 (MJC)
- 1975 Harold H. Engle '37 (MJC)
- 1974 Carlton O. Wittlinger '35 (MJC)
- 1973 Earl D. Miller '25 (MA) 1972 Helen W. Gish
- 1971 John C. Tuten 1971 George N. Wade
- 1970 Paul G. Lenhert '23 (MA) 1969 Bessie H. Kline
- 1968 Alma B. Cassel 1968 Jesse F. Lady
- 1967 Asa W. Climenhaga '16 (MA) 1966 John B. Sollenberger
- 1965 John H. Marin