The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes an alumnus/a of Bethany Lutheran College who has demonstrated spiritual development, intellectual and creative growth, self-understanding, and responsible citizenship through service to their community or church and professional achievement.
The recipient has also actively supported the mission of Bethany Lutheran College. The selection committee meets every fall to choose the recipient, and then invites the honoree to campus for an upcoming Commencement Ceremony where they receive the award formally, and address the graduates and commencement attendees.
*You may nominate someone for this award using the form below.
Bethany Lutheran College Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
- 2024 – Dr. Kristen (Scislow) Budahn MD, FAAFP (’08)
- 2023 – President Emeritus Dan Bruss, Ph.D (’73)
- 2022 – Dr. Daniel Schaefer (’71)
- 2021 – Josh Birkholz (’94)
- 2020 – Harold Theiste (’55)
- 2019 – Darwin Beck (’60)
- 2018 – Dr. Richard Bartsh (’72)
- 2017 – Professor Judith Kuster (’62)
- 2016 – Val Imm Bashour (’47)
- 2015 – Jim Vinz (’81)
- 2014 – Dr. Carol Lehtola (’71)
- 2013 – Dr. Peter Harstad (’55)
- 2012 – Dr. Darold Treffert (’53)
- 2011 – Dr. Willis Anthony (’58)
- 2010 – Georgia Rettmer (’51)
- 2009 – Rev. George Orvick (’48)
- 2008 – Marvin Schwan (’49)
- 2002 – President Emeritus Marvin Meyer (’59)