1. Home-icon
  2. Offices
  3. PR and Marketing
  4. 2021
  5. Alumni/Alumnae and Students Recognized at DC’s 2021 Homecoming

Alumni/Alumnae and Students Recognized at DC's 2021 Homecoming

October 1, 2021

DEFIANCE, Ohio – As Defiance College celebrates homecoming virtually in 2021, the College would like to honor the following alumni and alumnae award winners as well as the students selected to this year's homecoming court. Videos celebrating the winners can be found on the official Defiance College Youtube page or follow the links below.

Alumni/Alumnae Awards: The Alumni Citation for Academic Excellence was presented to Amy Smith, Indianapolis, Ind., class of 1983. Alumni Achievement Award recipients were Sally Bissell, Liberty Center, class of 1981, and Deborah Lloyd, Bryan, class of 1994. The Schauffler Legacy Award was presented to Alesia Yakos-Brown, Convoy, class of 1986. The Emerging Alumni/Alumnae Award was given to Dr. Austin Kleman, Bryan, class of 2010.

Alumni Varsity D honored Hall of Fame inductees for 2021. The Hall of Fame class included: Danyel Bowman, West Alexandria, class of 2010; Wayne Cooper, Columbus, class of 1972; William Ondrus, Defiance, class of 1980; and Scott Swartz, Tiffin, class of 1980. Both the 1959-60 men's basketball team and the 1995-96 women's basketball were also inducted in the 2021 Hall of Fame class.

Also, being honored during homecoming weekend were the DC alumni selected as 2020 and 2021 Coaches of the Year. Recipients for 2021 include: Douglas Billman, Antwerp, class of 2002; Doug Rakes, Sherwood, class of 2009; and Juan Vela, Fremont, class of 2004. Recipients for 2020 class include: Douglas Billman; Jerry Keifer, Delta, class of 1988; Sonny Lewis, Toledo, class of 1970; and Obie Mouser, Defiance, class of 1968.

2019 Homecoming queen crowning 2021 Homecoming king
The 2021 homecoming court was led by seniors Maurice Brewer, Monticello, Ark., Kalin Hubble, Anderson, Ind., Alexis Kiessling, Defiance, Sophia Moller, Pickerington, Elias Rogers, Gibsonburg, and Chase Stiner, Danville, Ill. The remaining homecourt representatives include: juniors Grant Johnson, Waynesville, and Julia Yeager, Defiance; sophomores Marcell Maxwell, Camden, Ga., and Hope Yost, Perrysburg; and freshmen Amber Krause, Mesa, Ariz., and Joseph Large, Curtice.

Chartered in 1850, Defiance College is an independent, liberal arts-based institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The College is guided by the four pillars of its mission: To Know, To Understand, To Lead, and To Serve.