Distinguished Alumni

Alumni awards allow Wayland to recognize outstanding service or achievement by its graduates and spotlight the contributions our alumni make worldwide. Nominations are always open for Distinguished Alumni Awards for all campuses in the Wayland system and awards are given at varying times during the calendar year. Click here to nominate a worthy recipient for future awards.

Distinguished Alumni Award: Distinguished Alumni winners should make a distinctive contribution to their profession, serve in exemplary leadership roles in their community and/or demonstrate a strong loyalty to Wayland through service or giving. This honor is limited to graduates of Wayland, whether undergraduate or at the graduate level. Available for graduates of all campuses.

Distinguished Young Alumni Award: Distinguished Young Alumni winners should make a distinctive contribution to their profession, serve in exemplary leadership roles in their community and/or demonstrate a strong loyalty to Wayland through service or giving. This honor is limited to persons who are age 35 or under who have earned a degree from Wayland. For Plainview or WBUOnline graduates only.

Distinguished Benefactor Award: This award honors an individual or couple who have generously given to Wayland through financial support to any programs, projects or special initiatives, either over a long period of time or a short one. This honor is not limited to a graduate of Wayland but preference is given to those who have shown exceptional loyalty to their alma mater.

NEW for 2023! Pioneer Alumni Educator Award: This new award recognizes an individual who has served the community through education, whether working as a teacher or up through district administrator level. This honor is limited to a graduate of the university but can be from any campus. Click here to nominate an individual.

2022 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners

John Corvino, BSOE'07, MCM'09 (Albuquerque campus)
Security Chief, Central New Mexico Community College, Albuquerque, New Mexico

James Tudman, BSOE'07, MCM'09 (Amarillo campus)
Operations, BWTX Pantex, Amarillo, Texas

Matthew Oberlander, BAS'19 (Anchorage campus)
Pastor, Anchorage Cross & Anchor Church, Anchorage, Alaska

Silvia Miranda, MEd'13 (Clovis campus)
Teacher, Texico Public Schools, Texico, New Mexico

Dr. Toia Farmer, MAM'20 (Fairbanks campus)
Lead Clinical Systems Trainer, Basset Community Hospital, Fort Wainwright, Alaska

Dr. Kelly Boquer-Wintjen, MBA'07, MEd'12, DMgmt'19 (Hawaii campus)
Director of Human Resources, Federal Maintenance, Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Valton Stephens, BSOE'07 (Lubbock campus)
Cotton Farmer, Lamesa, Texas

Tony Penn, BAS'21 (Phoenix campus)
CEO, United Way of Tucson & Southern Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

Donnie Brown, BA'93 (Plainview campus)
Director of Spiritual Life, Wayland, Plainview, Texas

Rick Cooper, BS'81, MEd'85 (Plainview campus)
Men's Basketball Operations, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

Kathie Jackson, BS'74 (Plainview campus)
Retired Longtime Educator, Amarillo, Texas

Richard Miller, BS'87, MDiv'21 (Plainview campus)
Pastor, Happy Union Baptist Church and retired probation officer, Plainview, Texas

Brenda Miller, BCM'19, MATS'21 (San Antonio campus)
Academic Advisor, WBU-San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas

Craig Mount, BSOE'08, MAM'10, MPA'12 (Sierra Vista campus)
Co-Owner, Nemean Solutions, Sierra Vista, Arizona

Ashton Rousseaux, BCM'20 (Wichita Falls campus)
Associate College Pastor, First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas

2022 Distinguished Young Alumni Award Winner

Dr. Hailey Budnick, BS'14
Neurosurgical Resident, IUPUI, Indianapolos, Indiana

2022 Distinguished Benefactor Alumni Award Winner

Sally Dillman Eaves, BS'75
Co-Owner, Salt Shop Handmades, Plainview, Texas

2022 Alumnus of the Year: Dr. Toia Farmer

Click here to read more about the 2021 winners systemwide.

Click here for a full list of previous years' winners.