Alumni Award for Ministry Excellence

The Alumni Award for Ministry Excellence is presented by Central Seminary to alumni who have made extraordinary contributions in their ministry context and exemplify the mission, values, and legacy of Central Seminary.

In 1973, Central Seminary began awarding the Alumnus/a of the Year Award. Past awardees are listed below.

2025Denise Hill & Jeff Buscher

Denise Hill

M.A.R.S. '82, M.Div. '86

Learn More

Jeff Buscher

D.Min. '16

Learn More

2021 Soozi Whitten Ford & Walter Lanier
2019 Sharon Cantrell & Matthew Silvers
2018 Steve Neal & Rakmi Shaiza
2017 Joanna Harader, Danny L. Jack & Seung John Lee
2016 Justin Anderson, Cheryl Harader & Wayne Paulsen
2015 Heather Entrekin & Cedric Rowan
2014 Lee Jost & Angela Lowe
2013 Cliff Caton & Kapzamang Sonna
2012 Ruth Clark & Phil Love
2011 Jane T. Fickle & Gordon Hatcher
2010 Marsha Perkins & Stanley Horton
2009 John Clark, Richard Menninger, Robert Molby & Warren Smith
2008 Margaret Roberts
2007 William E. Rathbun
2004 Robert A. Box & Dallas R. Weaver
2003 John O. Propert
2002 Herman E. Borum
2001 Kenneth E Briggs, Jr, Glenn G. Knight & Najekhu Yeptho Sema
2000 Carolyn Predmore & C. L. Baccus
1999 Richard Behrens & Marshall Schirer
1998 Lloyd James, Eileen James, Lee Rader, Bruce Bridgewater & Jene Chadwick Bridgewater
1997 Franklin W. Nelson
1996 J. Clark Hensley
1995 Gary H. Rhodes
1994 Joseph L. Backer & Telfer L. Epp
1993 Kenneth E. Ellsworth & Fred Thomson
1992 Harry Cowles & Robert Wallace
1991 Arel T. Lewis, Allen D. Selig & Richard L. Waltz
1990 Paul T. Losh, Doretha L. Horn & E. B. Hicks
1989 Bill L. Shook
1988 Samuel E. Beckwith
1987 Henry R. Moeller
1986 T. Maynard Preston
1985 Vera Goodman
1984 Floyd Boyd
1983 Albert W. Bunch
1982 Truman G. Sproles
1981 Charles W. Spencer
1980 Donald D. Gains
1979 John P. Epp
1977 Carleton L. Briggs & James M. Wood
1976 A. Q. Van Benschoten, Jr. & R. V. Unmack
1975 Mary Louise Slater, Harry E. Coulter & Jaime E. Davila
1974 Theodore W. Thompson, Sr. & Robert O. Dulin, Jr.
1973 Harry B. Bondurant & Ruby Lawrence

Nominate an Alumni

Alumni Spotlight

Peacebuilding

Although three years have passed since the January 6th insurrection at our nation’s Capitol, the threat of political…

Alum Joins Central Team as Student Success Advisor

Central Seminary is pleased to announce that LeAundra Boyice, MDiv ’21, has joined the Central team as the…

Mental Health Challenges within Congregations Today

This blog post is written by Central alum Jennifer Baergen Davis as part of the “Thriving in the…

My Calling. My Values. My Seminary.

This blog post is written by Central alum Cory Seibel as part of the “Your calling. Your values….