Alumni/ae Awards
Over the years, Defiance College has been recognizing alumni/ae for their achievements, successful careers and outstanding achievements in athletics and this tradition continues today! We have many amazing Defiance College alumni who have been recognized! These honors include the Alumni Citation for Academic Excellence Award, Alumni Achievement Award, Schauffler Emerging Alumni Award, the Alumni Varsity D Hall of Fame Award
The Defiance College Alumni Executive Board is accepting nominations for these awards. We look to our alumni community to nominate individuals worthy of receiving these awards. We can continue these important alumni/ae traditions with your help!
Recognizes outstanding alumni who have contributed in significant ways to the world of scholarship and/or teaching during the years since their graduation from Defiance College. We want to share the scholarly and academic achievements of DC alumni, and to identify those individuals as role models for students currently enrolled at Defiance College.
2023 James Shisler '63
2020 Amy Smith '83
2019 Dr. Holli (Fetrow) Seabury '97, '98
2018 Alice (Busson) Rote '72
2017 Judith Dally '71
John Scheu '72
2016 Kevin S. Miller '83
2015 Christine Wahl '72
2014 Dr. Harry Miller '59
2010 David Siemens '47
2009 Floyd Knoop '66
2008 Mary Morris '91
2007 Jayne Beilke '69
2006 Dr. James (Jay) Crider '72
2005 Dr. C. Fred Yarnell '61
2004 Bruce M. Saulnier '69
2003 William H. Meyer '67
2002 R. Scott Warren '65
2001 Anne C. Schroer-Lamont '67
Jane Ehlinger Sherman '68
2000 Bonnie Clark '82
To bring to the attention of the College community, in a dignified and meaningful way, alumni of Defiance College who have made outstanding achievements in his/her field of endeavor. The nominee must have demonstrated exemplary service to his/her community and society.
2024 Amanda Misencik '07
Kim (Shepherd) Ford '89
2023 Sue (Roughton) Dangler '75
Giles "Jack" Davis III '94
2020 Sally Bissell '81
Deb Lloyd '94
2019 Lynn (Metcalf) Alexander '73
Royce Henderson '75
2018 Karl Ideman '67
Joseph Lynch '85
2017 Dale Bruskotter '74
David Robinson '76
W. Timothy Leuzarder '67
2016 Darline Clemens '00
Jeffrey Wilson '89
Marlin Younker '65
2015 Tom Spiess '70
Don Smith '71
Jerry Pierman '63
2014 Beverly Nolt '74
David Gynn '65
2013 Loretta Neff Bjorklund '89
2012 Betty Amey '85
Beth Besaw '92
William Foster '69
Gary Zupancic '75
2011 Joe Dawson '50
John McHugh '65
Shaune Skinner '75
Daniel "Doc" Daugherty '84
Ron Ehresman '65
2010 Susan Crossland '74
Cristina (Hernandez) Thompson '81
Mark Lee '92
Mark Klein '76
Ray Etzler '63
2009 Charles Beard '70
Dee Ann (Miller) Balser '67
2008 Marilyn Mallott '51
Gary Dowler '65
Mary Marvel '77
2007 Robert Bashore '62
Denise Clayton '73
2006 Esquire Jauchem '69
Susan D. Barnes '78
The Schauffler Legacy Award was created in 2007 for the 40th anniversary event marking the arrival of the Schauffler College programs of Christian education and social work to DC. The award provides a way to meaningfully and permanently recognize individuals associated with Schauffler College, Schauffler at Defiance, and others who are part of the extended Schauffler family of alums, faculty, and supporters who contribute excellence in teaching and service, living out the Schauffler Legacy: "to give religion social direction, and to social work religious motivation."
2024 Rebecca Sanford '04
Jan Bechtel
2023 David Hammersmith '08
2022 Dr. Fred Coulter
2020 Alesia Yakos-Brown '86
2019 Dr. Marian Plant '73
Pastor Steve Bauerle '78
2018 Darnell Parker '83
2017 Terry Boyd '78
Carolyn Hofaker Keilig '76
2016 Elizabeth Apkarian Agbabian '52
Mary Wenner Young '90
2015 Jim Clark '75
Marie Wenner '54
2014 Raymond Santiago '71
Elaine Kopke-Gard '72
2013 Merrie "Chris" Palmer '82
Carol "Sprite" Johnson '76
2012 Kimberly Shinabery '81
Terri Gelzer '74
2011 Carol Smerz '73
Margaret Mills '67
2010 Don Smith '73
Stephen Michaelides
2009 Frances Ryan Millward '47
This award recognizes achievements of younger alumni whose life exemplify high principles and who are becoming outstanding leaders in profession and community, bringing honor to Defiance College and demonstrating promise of further distinction.
2024 Harvey Hyman '16
2020 Dr. Austin Kleman '10
2018 Rachel Baker '08
2017 Casey Gibson '05, '10
2016 Christopher George '03
2015 Nick Neiderhouse '05
2014 Lesa Shouse '04
2012 Melissa Smith, '02
2011 Maggie Maloy '01
2010 Renee Steffen '07
2009 Jeremy Ball '04
2008 Rebecca L. Sanford '04
Every year at Homecoming, Alumni/ae Varsity 'D' honors those who have distinguished themselves in athletics at DC, as well as through subsequent accomplishments since graduating from DC with induction into the Defiance College Athletic Hall of Fame.
2024 Anthony Pettaway '09
Fran Wahrman '90
Kirk Seemann '90
Terence Seikel '79
Craig Rutter
2023 Peggy (Hoops) Wolf '93
Mike Moorman '04
Lucas Dillon '08
Justine Johnston '09
Kevin Tong
2022 No recipient due to COVID
2021 No recipient due to COVID
2020 Danyel Bowman '10
Wayne Cooper '72
Bill Ondrus '80
Scott Swartz '80
1959-60 Men's Basketball Team
1995-96 Women's Basketball Team
2019 James Beaverson '90, '03
Douglas Huffman '68
Juanita (Turner) Osby '84
John Smith '95
1969 Football Team
2018 Jerome Floyd '85
Norman Gladieus '78
Robin Groves '89
Darnell Parker '83
1964, 1965, 1966 Baseball Teams
2017 James Berner '94
Penni Bostelman '87
Chad Kahle '00
Nate Schaublin '02
2016 Jim Bailey '81
Mike Groll '00
Jodi Hybart '94
Roxane Kippen '98
Jason Lee '95
2015 Stephanie Nafziger Fetter '98
Paul "Larry" Flynn '80
Maurice "Marv" Rotondo '70
Michael Bixel '83
2014 Terry Morman '90
Kevin Wierman '78
Megan Thigpen Grieser '03
Charles Nafziger '73
Ernesto Vilar '79
2013 James D. Harris '92
Brett Wingate '83
Sheila McGill '94
Sarah Harman '03
2012 Darlene Kaufman '88
Ernie Doherty '71
Tom Held '85
Tyrone Gilbert '80
2011 Tammy Lee Parker '87
Walter Richard Turner '82
Stanley J. Meinen '85
Jeff Boulton '84
2010 Tim Lee '76
Rodger Geren '69
Tami Jane Lupton '98
Steven Wilkin '75
2009 Cindy Youtsey Conner '92
David Scott '73
Mark Shine '74
Michael L. Wright '72
2008 Doug Murray '83
Marv Retcher '72
Patricia Schwiebert '84
George Stockman '57
The Outstanding Alumni/ae Award was discontinued in 2006 in order to promote a more unified alumni/ae achievement award process.
2005 John M. Decker '71
2004 Byrl Short '52
2003 Michael J. Freeland '69
2002 Darrell E. Jones '51
2001 Dean L. Colwell '64
Teri Lyn Dion '68
2000 Rebecca L. Sanford '04
1999 Richard K. Harpster '63
1998 Harold C. Henderson '54
Lowell L. Snider '59
SEND A NOMINATION
