Alumni of the Year
Every year, three to five alumni from the honor years are selected to receive the Alumni of the Year award. Recipients of this honor are recognized for outstanding or unusual contributions in the areas of community service, church service, and/or professional service. The honoree's character and work reflects Walla Walla University's core values: Excellence in Thought, Generosity in Service, Beauty in Expression, and Faith in God. The award is presented at Alumni Homecoming Weekend. Submit a nomination to be considered during the selection process.
Record of Alumni of the Year
| Year awarded | Name, class year |
| 2024 | Herb Larson, 1979 |
| 2024 | Les Zollbrecht, 1999 |
| 2024 | Kari (Cooper) Firestone, 1994 |
| 2024 | Pedrito Maynard-Zhang, 1994 |
| 2023 | Ann Gibson, 1968 |
| 2023 | Doug Taylor, 1978 |
| 2023 | Marci Knauft, 1993 and 2003 |
| 2022 | David Vixie, 1977 and 1983 |
| 2022 | Wendy Hernandez, 1987 and1993 |
| 2022 | Aman Grant, 1997 |
| 2022 | Mellissa Frances Sydney 2012 |
| 2021 | Gary Wiss, 1966 |
| 2021 | Gale Crosby, 1981 |
| 2021 | Kelli Wheeler, att. 1986-1991 |
| 2021 | Handel Wellington, 2001 |
| 2020 | Sam Carvajal, 1960 |
| 2020 | Doug Clark, 1970 |
| 2020 | Bill Fritz, 1975 and 1977 |
| 2020 | Becky Billock, 1994 |
| 2019 | Trevor O'Reggio, 1979 |
| 2019 | Cassie Ragenovich, 1972 and 1974 |
| 2019 | Dick and Anita (Dietrich) Molstead, 1959 |
| 2019 | Gary Curtis, 1959 |
| 2018 | Christian and Alexa Sharma, 2008 |
| 2018 | Hansel Fletcher, 1983/1985 |
| 2018 | Bev Buckles, 1978 |
| 2018 | Don Hall, 1968 |
| 2017 | Kenneth Fox, 1962 |
| 2017 | Betty Winslow, 1967 |
| 2017 | Kevin Krueger 1987 |
| 2017 | Kevin Wettstein, 2007 |
| 2016 | Fred Gemechu, 1966 |
| 2016 | James Christianson, 1996 |
| 2016 | Charles Scriven, 1966 |
| 2016 | Laurel Dovich, 1986 |
| 2015 | Andrea Hawkins-Daarud, 2005 |
| 2015 | Robert Kyte, 1975 |
| 2015 | Kenneth Kelln, 1960 |
| 2015 | Russell Staples, 1955 |
| 2014 | George Fearing, 1979 |
| 2014 | Linda De Romanett, 1974 |
| 2014 | Bernadine Irwine, 1969 |
| 2014 | Roman Hintz, 1964 |
| 2013 | Dennis Woodland, 1963 |
| 2013 | Myron Tupper, 1953 |
| 2013 | Doug Thomsen, 1993 |
| 2013 | Tamara Thomas, 1983 |
| 2012 | Wendell White, 1962 |
| 2012 | Pamela Rasmussen, 1982 |
| 2012 | Gina Jervey-Mohr, MD, 1992 |
| 2012 | Don Kirkman, 1952 |
| 2011 | Rhona Kwiram, 1991 |
| 2011 | Nancy Cross, 1966 |
| 2011 | Lori Ciccarelli, 1981 |
| 2011 | Darold Bigger, 1966 |
| 2010 | Reginald Unterseher, 1980 |
| 2010 | Alden Thompson, 1965 |
| 2010 | Michael Cruz, 1980 |
| 2010 | Lyle Albrecht, 1970 |
| 2009 | Kevin Vixie, 1984 |
| 2009 | Rick Schmachtenberg, 1979 |
| 2009 | Gary Patterson, 1959 |
| 2009 | Alan Coffey, 1984 |
| 2009 | Delona Lang Bell, 1979 |
| 2008 | Joyce Lang, 1973 |
| 2008 | Bill Chobotar, 1965 |
| 2008 | Phyllis Atkins, 1957 |
| 2007 | Paul Rasmussen, 1972 |
| 2007 | Gerald Winslow, 1967 |
| 2007 | Ottis Edwards, 1952 |
| 2007 | Lois Hellie, 1957 |
| 2006 | Marvin Robertson, 1956 |
| 2006 | Gina Marie Lindsey, 1976 |
| 2006 | Carl Wilkens, 1981 |
| 2006 | Jason Wells, 1996 |
| 2005 | Ulric J. Mark, 1985 |
| 2005 | John Sackett, 1980 |
| 2005 | Susan Gardner, 1970 |
| 2005 | Fred Bennett, 1955 |
| 2004 | Philip Phillips, 1979 |
| 2004 | Donald Ammon, 1964 |
| 2004 | Ila Zbaraschuck, 1964 |
| 2004 | Bill Loveless, 1949 |
| 2003 | James Bechtel, 1958 |
| 2003 | Judy Toop, 1963 |
| 2003 | Richard S. Elloway, 1983 |
| 2003 | Keith L. Hallam, 1983 |
| 2002 | Dale Lampson, 1982 |
| 2002 | Willa Sandmeyer, 1977 |
| 2002 | James Hayward, 1972 |
| 2002 | Walt Meske, 1962 |
| 2001 | Lisa Bissell Paulson, 1981 |
| 2001 | Randel R. Wagner, 1976 |
| 2001 | Patricia S. Jones, 1961 |
| 2001 | Kenneth Mittleider, 1951 |
| 2000 | Beth (Dennis) Zachary, 1980 |
| 2000 | Leonard Harms, 1970 |
| 2000 | Bruce Johnston, 1950 |
| 2000 | C. Erwin Syphers, 1940 |
| 1999 | Linda Abdel-Malek, 1989 |
| 1999 | LeRoy Byers, 1969 |
| 1999 | Beulah Fenton Stevens, 1959 |
| 1999 | Floyd Bresee, 1949 |
| 1998 | Gilbert Springer, 1968 |
| 1998 | N. Clifford Sorensen, 1958 |
| 1998 | Frank Howard IV, 1976 |
| 1997 | Olin J. Peach, 1957 |
| 1997 | Daniel G. Matthews, 1957 |
| 1997 | Harold G. Coffin, 1947 |
| 1997 | Janice Melenchuk Bell, 1972 |
| 1996 | Judith Lloyd Storfjell, 1966 |
| 1996 | Don Kirkman, 1952 |
| 1996 | David Hensel, 1956 |
| 1996 | Walter Blehm, 1946 |
| No Alumni of the Year selected for years 1992-1995 | |
| 1991 | Loren Dickinson, Faculty Alumni |
| 1991 | Hilda Schartz, 1940 |
| 1991 | Harold Dale Schwartz, 1941/1951 |
| 1991 | Mary Jane McConaughey, 1941 |
| 1991 | Kenneth L. Fleck, 1944 |
| 1991 | Alcyon Logan Fleck, Attended |
| 1990 | Frederick R. Bennett, 1955 |
| 1990 | Iris Sadie Hansen Stober, 1957 |
| 1990 | Howard V. Gimbel, 1956 |
| 1990 | Jerald E. Christensen, 1939 |
| 1989 | Donald W. Rigby, 1956 |
| 1989 | Naomi Kime Pitman, 1931 |
| 1989 | Jess C. Holm, 1942 |
| 1989 | Nelma Akins Drake, 1949 |
| 1989 | Stewart W. Shankel, 1954 |
| 1989 | Delbert M. Shankel, 1950 |
| 1989 | Clinton L. Shankel, 1954 |
| 1988 | Helen Wittschiebe Cross |
| 1988 | Edward F. Cross, 1974 |
| 1988 | Elga Coberly Weaver, 1926 |
| 1988 | Kenneth D. Walters, 1958 |
| 1988 | Pat Drake Cople, 1958 |
| 1987 | Ethel M. Walker Heras, 1935 |
| 1987 | Alice E. Smith, 1945 |
| 1987 | Wilton H. Bunch, 1956 |
| 1987 | W. Duncan Eva, 1949 |
| 1986 | Eleanor Brady Hetke, 1959 |
| 1986 | L. P. "Jim" Corbett, 1925 |
| 1986 | Richard H. Hart, 1966 |
| 1986 | Roland R. Hegstad, 1949 |
| 1985 | Kenneth E. James, 1965 |
| 1985 | Gertrude Manfull Gibson, 1943 |
| 1985 | C. Warren Becker, 1949 |
| 1985 | Thomas R. Thompson, 1935 |
| 1985 | Helen Thompson Zobler, 1949 |
| 1984 | Walter F. Specht, 1936 |
| 1984 | Francis A. Soper, 1940 |
| 1984 | Juanita Thiebaud Kretschmar, Attended |
| 1984 | Alvin L. Kwiram, 1958 |
| 1984 | Brian S. Bull, 1957 |
| 1983 | Arthur W. Spoo, 1949 |
| 1983 | Dorothy Crumley Carscallen, 1976 |
| 1983 | Carey C. Carscallen, 1976 |
| 1983 | Lowell L. Bock, 1946 |
| 1983 | Thais V. Thrasher, 1952 |
| 1983 | E. Strauss Cubley, 1924 |
| 1982 | Gerald S. Scheopflin, 1966 |
| 1982 | Lawrence E. C. Joers, 1937 |
| 1982 | Gertrude L. Haussler, 1943 |
| 1982 | Siegfried H. Horn, 1947 |
| 1981 | Thomas W. Walters, 1934 |
| 1981 | Norval F. Pease, 1931 |
| 1981 | Ila Cable Daughtery, 1949 |
| 1981 | Frank Daugherty, 1949 |
| 1981 | Zane H. Price, 1950 |
| 1980 | Bernice E. Searle, 1939 |
| 1980 | Rose Budd Ludlow, 1946 |
| 1980 | Richard L. Hammill, 1936 |
| 1980 | Ernest S. Booth, Attended |
| 1980 | Lyle H. Jensen, 1939 |
| 1980 | Walter R. Beach, 1923 |
| 1979 | Adlai A. Esteb, 1931 |
| 1978 | Francis Keller Harding, 1926 |
| 1977 | Kathleen Keener Zolber, 1926 |
| 1976 | William M. Landeen, 1921 |
| 1976 | Roy V. Jutzy, 1949 |