Alliance Awards

Download: Program to Honor Outstanding Faculty Members (PDF)

Download: Program to Honor Outstanding Administrators (PDF)

The Alliance for Assemblies of God Higher Education believes that a life and career dedicated to Christian Higher Education through thought, leadership, and scholarship is a definite ministry and calling in the body of Christ. As a result, the Commission has established four distinct awards that recognize the contributions of administrators and faculty to Assemblies of God higher education.

Current Distinguished Awards Recipients

Two awards recognize distinguished service: the Distinguished Administrator Award (Omicron Alpha) and the Distinguished Educator Award (Delta Alpha). These awards have been established for the purpose of recognizing those who have distinguished themselves in the Fellowship by consistent excellence in scholarship and service in administration and teaching. It also recognizes that they have made an outstanding contribution and lifetime commitment to postsecondary education in the Assemblies of God. National recognition at General Council is given to the recipients of the Distinguished Administrator Award and the Distinguished Educator Award. [Previous Distinguish Award Recipients]

College Administrators and Educators Honored for Distinguished Service

The Alliance for Assemblies of God Higher Education presented its Distinguished Administrator and Distinguished Educator Awards during its biennial luncheon on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Steven Fettke (Southeastern University), Dr. Rebecca Huechteman (Evangel University) and Dr. Glen Menzies (North Central University) received the Delta Alpha Distinguished Educator Award. Dr. Byron Klaus (Assemblies of God Theological Seminary) and Dr. Don Meyer (Valley Forge Christian College) received the Omicron Alpha Distinguished Administrator Award.

Dr. Fettke's teaching career began at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. Since 1979, he has taught Bible classes at the university. For 17 years he was the first Chairman of the Bible Department and then for two years the entire Religion Department. He was also the founding Chair of the Family Care Council, which is an oversight committee of parents of disabled children. He is a member of the Son of the American Revolution and serves in a sponsorship role at his son's Adult Day Training Facility. He completed a D.Min. at Columbia Theological Seminary.

Dr. Huechteman's tenure at Evangel University began in 1978 when she was a part-time teacher. However, it wasn't until 1981 that she began teaching on a full-time basis. As the Education Department Chair (1995-2008) she developed new curricula, redesigned programs, initiated graduate programs and successfully completed several accreditation reviews. Dr. Huechteman has served as the Chair of Independent Colleges and Universities Subcommittee since 2000. She received a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

In 1982, Dr. Menzies began his tenure as the Dean of Men at North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two years later, he took over the fledgling Data Processing Department. It wasn't until 1988 that Dr. Menzies began his teaching career as an assistant professor being the "utility infielder" for the Pastoral Ministries Department. In 2002 he began serving as Chair of North Central's Pastoral Ministries Department. Since 2005 Dr. Menzies has chaired for the Department of Bible and Theology primarily teaching in the areas of New Testament and Early Christian Literature. He completed a Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Klaus has served as president of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary since 1999. He was also an administrator for 15 years and a faculty member for over 29 years at two institutions. He began his administration and teaching career at Vanguard University in California where he served as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for five years (1985-1990). He received a D.Min. at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Since 1997 Dr. Meyer has served as the president of Valley Forge Christian College. Prior to his tenure he spent 21 years teaching and in administrative leadership at North Central Bible College in Minneapolis. While there he took part in the Institute for Education Management at Harvard University, established cooperative relationships with international colleges to provide students with studies abroad experience and served as the Interim Academic Dean at Continental Theological Seminary in Brussels, Belgium. Dr. Meyer received a Ph.D. at University of Minnesota.

Faithful Service Awards

Two other awards recognizing faithful service have been established: Administrator Award (Omicron Pi) and the Educator Award (Delta Sigma). These awards give special recognition to administrators and professors who have rendered outstanding service to the Assemblies of God Fellowship as reflected by their commitment and years of service at AG academic institutions.

The awards are presented by a college official or a representative from the Christian Higher Education Department during a chapel service or at another appropriate gathering.

Educator Awards

Dr. James D. Hernando	25 years service	AG Theological Seminary
Dr. Amy Alexander	25 years service	Southwestern Univ.
Dr. Danny Alexander	25 years service	Southwestern Univ.
Dr. Lavonne Larson	25 years service	Trinity Bible College
Dr. Michael Dusing	25 years service	Trinity Bible College
Dr. Dan Albrecht	25 years service	Bethany University
Dr. Mark Hulse	25 years service	Bethany University
Dr. Marilyn Vaughn	25 years service	Bethany University
Ms. Shirley Shedd	25 years service	Evangel University
Dr. Richard Honea	25 years service	Evangel University
Dr. Mark McLean	25 years service	Evangel University
Mr. Jerry Owens	25 years service	Evangel University
Dr. E. Donald Lorance	35 years service	Vanguard University
Dr. William C. Williams	35 years service	Vanguard University
Rev. Don Ryall	35 years service	Bethany University

Administrator Awards

Mr. Joseph F. Marics	20 years service	AG Theological Seminary
Dr. Marshall Flowers	30 years service	Bethany University