Alumni Awards

Each year, York University presents awards to a select few who bring honor and recognition to the university through their outstanding personal and professional service and achievement.
 

Nominations are welcome at this time.

Alumni Awards

*awarded annually

Alumni of the Year & Young Alumni of the Year Awards

Eligibility Requirements:

Only former students of York University will be eligible for Alumni of the Year and Young Alumni of the Year Awards. 

To be considered a candidate:     

  • The nominee shall have distinguished him or herself in their chosen professional field of endeavor.     
  • The nominee shall have made significant contributions to his or her community, on a local, state, national or international level, in professional, humanitarian, or ministerial endeavors. 
  • The nominee shall have demonstrated integrity in his or her personal life and gained the respect of those surrounding them.  
  • The nominee shall have demonstrated a continuing connection to York University.
  • The nominee shall have demonstrated a belief in the mission and purpose of York University.

RECIPIENTS

Nominations:

  • Nominations may be submitted by anyone associated with York University.  
  • All nominations must be submitted by April 15 via the York University website. 
  • Final award selection will be determined by a panel of current York University ​employees. 

Make A Nomination

Presentation: 

​Awards will be presented during Homecoming. It is preferred that recipients are present to receive their award. Recipients will be announced before the date.

 

Athletic Hall of Fame

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Membership in the York University Athletic Hall of Fame may be extended to persons who have actively participated in athletics while students at York University or have been closely associated with athletics at the university.
  • The recipient shall have possessed, in addition to outstanding ability in a sport or sports, other qualifications such as sportsmanship, character and integrity, and the recipient shall be one who has brought distinction to the university.
  • The recipient should have completed his or her athletic eligibility and athletic participation at least 5 years prior to nomination.

Nomination Form

 

Performing Arts Hall of Fame

Eligibility Requirements:

  • ​The nominee should have received their degree from York University at least five years prior, taught at York University for at least five years, or have been of service to York University.
  • Faculty and staff members may be nominated upon retirement from York University.  On rare occasions current faculty and staff can be nominated.
  • Nominees should have been involved in music or theatre programs -- involvement included on stage (choir, drama, department singing groups, Songfest, etc.) or backstage (lights, sound, set building, stage management, etc.)

Nomination Form


 

Alumni of the Year Award Recipients

2011  Linda Egle '70
2012  David Lynn '74
2013  Dr. Pat (Stockburger) Simpson '72
2014  Dr. Jackie (Hance) Humphrey  '59
2015  Dr. Dickie '64 & Onita (Touchton '65) Hill 
2016  Dr. R. Wayne White '63
2017  Hon. David Arterburn '77
2018  Scott '79 & Lisa (Hinrichs '81) Eckman 
2019  John & Ellen (Whitman) Lucas '66
2020  Dr. Gayle (Savage) Davidson '75
2021   Dr. Jeff Hannel '89
2022  Dr. Steve and LaRee (Scroggin) Eckman '71
2023  Dr. C. Shawn Bengtson '80
2024 Rod Genrich '71
2025 Susan (Killen '79) McKeever

​1990  Dr. Larry & Leslie (McClelland) Deal '77
1991  Dr. Richard & Cindy (Martin) Edwards '76
          Sherry (Frederick) Adams '77
1992  Brenda (Collins) Onstead '74
1993  Tom Gaer '68
1994  Dr. Stephen Lemons '74
1995  Bill Lambert '70
1996  Rick Hendricks '72
1997  Rick & Sherilyn (Hogins​) Eldred '71
1998  Deena (Smith) Tandy '65
1999  Kimball '76 & Debbie (Lewis '75) Matkins
2000  Steve Belden '76
2001  Sherri Herndon '81
2002  Stephen '77 & Tammy (Ferguson '78) Batten
2003  Sharla (Sikes) Marcum '73
2004  Mike '84 & Janet (Reno '83) Rush
2005  Dr. Greg Woods '85
2006  Dr. Dennis & Debby (Stockburger) Lynn '76
2007  Drs. Frank & Kathleen (Baker) Wheeler '72
2008  John Hamm '69
2009  Dr. Tim McNeese '73 
2010  Charlie Watts '65 

1974 John Townsdin '58
1975  Victor Rodriguez '59
1976  Dr. Dan McCaghren '62
1977  Bob Lewis '58
1978  Gary Michael '61
1979  Ron Magnusson '71
1980  Dr. Carl Baker '69
1981  Paul Touchton '61
1982  Elton Albright '67
1983  Lynn Yocum '62
1984  Jerry Swanson '64
1985  Fran Hudgens '65
           Harold Mitchell '60
1986  William T. “Spike” O’Dell '73
           Drs. Tom '59 & Dottie (Lott '72) Schulz
           Jerry & Donna (Hinton) Swanson '64
1987  Byrl “Bo” Brockman '69
           Dr. James Anderson '64
           Dale Hukle '73
1989  Gerry Nixon '72

 

Young Alumni of the Year Recipients

2009  Richard James '97
​2010  Jason Rice '00
2011  Dr. Kimberly (Hooten) Williams '02
2012  Dr. Aaron Fletcher '02
2013  Nick Harlan '03          
2014  Dr. Scott Abraham '99
2015  Brad Reischl '99
2016  Lanny Gridley '98
2017  Kimberly (Dreher) Hoyt '02
2018  Mark Smesrud '10
2019  Aimee (Burney) Piller '04
2019  Ben Smail '12
2021  Angela Jiang '04
2022  Adrianne (Keesee) Johnson '01
2023  Dan and Julie (Barrett, '02) Goodwin '03
2023  Misty (Wellman) Brouillette '02
2024 Grant and Amanda (DeBerry '02) Rathe '03
2025  Jordan '03 and Jacqueline (Keesee '04) Sikes

 

 

More Awards

Awarded to alumni who attended York College before 1954: 

2015  Don & Ramona (Burgett) Ellison '54
2015  Gordon Fillman '49

This award is presented to families who have made a significant impact on the university through service over many years.

2012  Jack and Robbie Sikes Family

2014  Roger '58 and Betty (Williams '58) Lessly Family

2019  Clint and Eletha Goben Family

2024 Kinney Family

This award is presented to alumni or friends of York University who have gone above and beyond in acts of Christian service.

2009  Dr. Dottie  (Lott) Schulz '72

2013  Dennis Cady '66

2017  Sendai Missions Team: Jonathan Straker ’00, Joel Osborne ’00, Ben Berry ’01, and Crimsen (Ruhnke ‘00) Hanson​

2018  Joe and Linda Thomas

2019  Norman Morrow '63 (posthumous) 

2020  Carladean Thompson '75

2024 Marquisette Bickford '84

 


 

Nomination Form: