Alumni Awards
Exceptional Bluffton University alumni who have reached milestones of achievement, service and giving, are honored each year during Homecoming weekend at the President’s Banquet.
Two awards are given each year, selected from Award of Merit, Lifetime Service, Professional Achievement, Outstanding Young Alumni or Faculty/Staff Service.
2024 Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Dr. Tsedey Biru-Williams ’11
For as long as she could remember, Tsedey Biru-Williams wanted to do something in the medical field. Her experience growing up seeing the impacts improper healthcare treatment can have on individuals led her to seek out change in healthcare.
“I wanted to make sure I could help change somebody else’s future, so they don’t have to see the impacts of poor healthcare,” said Biru-Williams.
A feature story about Tsedey Biru-Williams >
2024 Faculty Staff Service Award
Dr. George Lehman ’69
In 1994, Lehman received a call from the academic dean at Bluffton about a job opening
in the business department. Lehman knew he had to take this opportunity to teach at
his alma mater. While at Bluffton Lehman began Bluffton’s MBA program.
A feature story about George Lehman >
2023 Award of Merit
Gregory Wannemacher ’77
Greg Wannemacher ’77 and his wife, Donna ’78, were served as co-chairs for the Simply Innovate Campaign. When Bluffton needed a “construction manager” for the Knowlton Science Center, Wannemacher worked alongside Phill Talavinia, vice president of student affairs and athletics, to oversee it from the contractors’ bidding process clear through its completion.
A feature story about Greg Wannemacher >
2023 Professional Achievement Award
Dr. Ruth Abaya ’07
In her role as a pediatric emergency physician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia,
Abaya is often able to “fix” problems in the short term.
However, after completing a stint in the emergency department where the same young
man was treated twice for gunshot wounds in the span of a month, Abaya began working
in public health and violence prevention, as well.
A feature story about Dr. Ruth Abaya >
2022 Lifetime Service Award
Kathy (Gaines ’78) Carr
Over the course of her 40-plus-year career in education, Kathy (Gaines ’78) Carr estimates
she touched the lives of roughly 6,000 children. During her career, Carr was active
on many boards and service organizations ranging from the Indiana Black Expo to the
National Education Association to the board of directors for the Fort Wayne Rescue
Mission.
Elementary education >