AWARDS - Outstanding Service Award
Each year, four individuals are awarded an Outstanding Service Award.
BBC&S alumni nominate individuals during the spring. The Alumni Association Council selects the award winners.
Candidates must have:
- Received a degree from Baptist Bible College, Graduate School, or Seminary.
- Maintained a quality association with BBC&S for at least 10 years.
- Cultivated an evident pursuit of Christ-centered thinking and daily lifestyle that honors Him.
- Hold an evident dedication to developing the life of Christ in others.
- A few examples of ministry/professional areas of potential award winners are: Pastor, youth pastor, educator, missionary, deacon, women’s ministry leader, lay worker, counselor, other significant ministry.
2011 Outstanding Service Award recipients:
Fran Weddle (‘59)
A native of Vernon County, MO, Fran grew up in Iowa and received Christ as her personal Savior in 1938. After graduating from high school in Logan, IA, Fran taught in rural schools from 1946-1950. She later attended Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, NY, earning a Bachelor of Religious Education degree in 1959. Deciding to work with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, Fran participated in candidate classes, visited churches, and raised support before moving to Iquitos, Peru, where she served from 1961-1993. Her work included teaching elementary education, serving local Baptist churches, and preparing national Christian leaders. Now retired, Fran lives in Central Pennsylvania and is active at Baptist Bible Church in Shiremanstown.
Dr. Robert Kelleman (‘81)
Bob has served in pastoral ministries and as a professor in biblical higher education. In addition to a B.S. in Bible earned at BBC in 1981, he holds degrees from Grace Theological Seminary and Kent State University. A licensed clinical professional counselor, he has authored six books, is the Founder and CEO of RPM Ministries, and serves as Executive Director of the Association of Biblical Counselors' Center for Church Equipping. Bob is known for his Christ-centered, church-based, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed approach to equipping God’s people to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth. Bob and his wife Shirley (Vernon, ‘80) have been married for 30 years. Shirley is a kindergarten teacher in Lowell, IN. They have two children.
Miss Ruth Rising (‘88, ‘89)
Ruth earned a B.S. in Bible (‘88) and a Bachelor of Sacred Music degree (‘89) at BBC. After graduating, she taught music in a Christian school for more than seven years before moving to South Africa to work in a church planting ministry with Evangelical Baptist Missions. She later moved north to Pretoria to work as a school administrator and office manager of a children's village called Bethesda Outreach. It is a village that takes HIV/AIDS-affected orphans and puts them in godly Christian homes. She loves being involved in ministry and is thankful for her excellent biblical training. Among her favorite memories while at BBC was working as a class officer with Jim and Diane Lytle, and working in the Snack Bar of the Student Center.
Below are previous Outstanding Service Award recipients.
2010 – Ken and Arlene Updyke, Richard Blades, Martin Eaton
2009 – Dr. Don Whipple, Sherrie Holloway, Michael and Kim Ryall
2008 – James R. Howell, Wanda Southworth Leffel, Dr. Colin Smith, Mel Walker
2007 – Dr. Steve Viars, Dr. Rodney Decker, Jane Schmitz, Darlene Knafel
2006 – Joseph Flatt, Kennard Mosher, Delores Woods, Wilbur & Nona Janowski
2005 – W. Robert Mattox, C. David Barrows, Doris Youmans, Martha Lentsch
2004 – Carl Hills, Harold Green, Elizabeth Jones, Mary Shellhammer
2003 – Glenn Seaver, RoseLee Bancroft, Carl & Wilma Abbott, Bob Marsh
2002 – Donald Shirk, Saleen McElwain, Tim & Barb Vermilyea, Donald Moffitt
2001 – Harold Comings, Ellen Glanville, Dick & Ruth Gelina, Eddy Smith
2000 – Chris Hindal, Robert Lightner, Tim & Helen Matchett, Jacquelyn Mitchell
1999 – Victor Decker, James Grier, J. Murray Murdoch, Larry & Jacqui Armstrong, Verna Hollenback
1998 – Terry Zebulske, David Boehning, Andy & Diane Large, Bethel McGrew
1997 – Richard Alhgrim, James Lytle, Polly Strong, Lena VanGilder
1996 – Barry Stewart, Cheryl Fawcett, Paul & Elaine Kintner, Gerald & Thelma Strope
1995 – Willis Hull, Christopher Davis, Fred & Rachel Whitman, Beryl Kach
1994 – James Jeffery, Earle Harriman, Linda Short,
1993 – Donald McCall, Richard Engle, Paul Weimer
1992 – James Vogel, David McClain, Donald Bond
1991 – Richard Christen, Joyce McNamee, George Chadwick, Beverly McElwain
1990 – Karl Smith, Valerie Wilson, Artus Larkin, Harry Dodd
1989 – R. Craig Golden, Clara Crumb deRosset, C. Lloyd Button
1988 – Floyd Drake, Martha Green, David Moore
1987 – R. Eldon Brock, Jesse Eaton, Carl Elgena, Donald Trott II
1986 – Marylou Brownell, Warren Birdsall, Benjamin McGrew, Charles Vermilyea
1985 – Charles Cuthbertson, Patricia Brannen, Robert Hayden, Robert Gromacki
1984 – Mary Thompson, Rev. & Mrs. M.O. Burman, David Layhew