Alumni Awards
Alumni Citation for Academic Excellence
To recognize 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.
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
Alumni Achievement Award
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.
2016 Darline Clemens '00, Jeffrey Wilson '89, Marlin Younker '65
2015 Tom Spiess ’70 , Don Smith ‘71, Jerry Pierman ‘63
2014 Beverly Nolt ’74 and David Gynn ‘65
2013 Loretta Neff Biorklund ‘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 ’74, 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
Schauffler Legacy Award
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 Defiance College. 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."
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
Young Alumni Achievement Award
To recognize achievements of young alumni whose life exemplify high principles and
who are outstanding leaders in profession and community, bringing honor to Defiance
College and demonstrating promise of further distinction.
2016 Christopher George '03
2015 Nick Neiderhouse ‘05
2014 Lesa Shouse ‘04
2011 Maggie Maloy ‘01
2010 Renee Steffen ‘07
2009 Jeremy Ball ‘04
2008 Rebecca L. Sanford ‘04
AVD Hall of Fame
Every year at Homecoming, Alumni Varsity 'D' honors those who have distinguished themselves
in athletics at Defiance College as well as through subsequent accomplishments since
graduating from DC with induction into the Defiance College Athletic Hall of Fame.
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 David Scott '73, Mark Shine '74, Michael L. Wright '72
2008 Doug Murray '83, Marv Retcher '72, Patricia Schwiebert '84, George Stockman '57
Outstanding Alumni Award
The Outstanding Alumni Award was discontinued in 2006 in order to promote a more unified
Alumni 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
Would you like to nominate someone?
Please feel free to nominate someone you know, just send an email to alumni@defiance.edu. We would love to hear from you!
