Grace College Names Six To Its 2018 Outstanding Alumni
October 15, 2018 at 8:19 p.m.
Grace College Names Six To Its 2018 Outstanding Alumni
By Staff Report-
Dr. Kelly Manahan Geisler, Suzie Light, Janet Minnix, Patrick Lee and Dan and Renee Keiser were honored for their accomplishments and contributions to Grace and to their communities. Each of the men and women awarded has served to advance the mission of Grace College & Seminary through their lives and careers.
Dr. Kelly (Manahan BA ’90) Geisler of Athens, Ga., was named Grace College Alumna of the Year.
Kelly and her husband, John, have been consistent advocates and supporters of Grace College for many years. Kelly has given of her time by serving on the Aspire Campaign Cabinet and offering her expertise to Grace students who are interested in attending medical school. In recognition of their financial contributions to the new Dr. Dane A. Miller Science Complex, a biology lab will be named in the Geislers’ honor.
Suzie Light, of Warsaw, was presented the Honorary Alumni Award.
Light has served as the CEO and executive director of Kosciusko County Community Foundation (KCCF) for more than two decades, cultivating a culture of philanthropy that has grown the foundation’s assets from $400,000 to over $57 million.
“You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that is as well-connected and catalytic as Suzie Light,” said Dr. Bill Katip, president of Grace College & Seminary. “We have benefited from Suzie’s influence and talents in more ways than I can list.”
Janet Minnix (BA ’61, MAMS ’17) of Roanoke, Va., received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award.
After graduating from Grace in 1961, Minnix spent the majority of her career serving at Women of Grace USA (WGUSA), a national ministry of the Charis Fellowship (formerly Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches) for 30 years — the last 17 years as president until she retired in 2014.
Additionally, over the past 12 years, Minnix has served on the Grace College & Seminary Board of Trustees. “Serving on the board gave me an opportunity to repay in a small measure what I received from Grace many years ago,” said Minnix. Further, it gave her an opportunity to encourage and support Dr. Christy Hill, Grace professor of spiritual formation and women’s ministry.
Patrick Lee (BA ’08), of Goshen, was named Grace College Young Alumnus of the Year.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2008, Lee began his career with RSM, a national firm specializing in tax, audit and consulting services. In 2011, he joined Kruggel Lawton CPAs as a senior staff accountant.
Lee was named to Kruggel Lawton’s strategic planning team, where he helped determine the firm’s values and business goals. Preserving and perpetuating the firm’s culture is one of the reasons Lee is passionate about his job.
“Kruggel Lawton affords me the ability to live out a work-life balance,” Lee said. “I’m able to invest in my church (First Baptist Church of Goshen) and its youth as a youth leader and serve as a board member on two local nonprofits (Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart and Elkhart Christian Academy) while prioritizing the most important people in my life — my wife, Ruth, and our four children.”
Dan and Renee Keiser of Pataskala, Ohio, were presented the Parent Distinguished Service Award.
Dan and Renee are the proud parents of Lauren Keiser, who was Grace’s first female golf recruit four years ago. “My parents have supported Grace from the day I decided to make this place my second home,” says Lauren.
It was Coach Denny Duncan who introduced the Keisers to Grace, and once they visited, Renee says, “Lauren was sold pretty quickly. The strong atmosphere of faith at Grace and the kind, compassionate staff and faculty were immediately evident to us. Since then it’s been a joy to watch Lauren grow and be successful academically and athletically. We are beyond grateful that God placed her at Grace.”
In the past four years, Dan and Renee haven’t missed a single one of Lauren’s tournaments. “We are crazy Grace Women’s Golf fans,” confesses Renee. “We have loved being a part of this team.” The Keisers have hosted the women’s golf team for numerous tournaments, helped Coach Duncan in recruiting efforts and participated in various golf fundraisers for the team.
Further, the Keisers have served on the Grace College Parent Council since its inception in 2015, volunteering at Family Weekend and at Welcome Weekend events.
“We pray regularly for students, staff and other prayer needs we receive,” says Dan. “It’s been a pleasure to serve Grace in this capacity and to enhance the partnership between Grace College and parents.”
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Dr. Kelly Manahan Geisler, Suzie Light, Janet Minnix, Patrick Lee and Dan and Renee Keiser were honored for their accomplishments and contributions to Grace and to their communities. Each of the men and women awarded has served to advance the mission of Grace College & Seminary through their lives and careers.
Dr. Kelly (Manahan BA ’90) Geisler of Athens, Ga., was named Grace College Alumna of the Year.
Kelly and her husband, John, have been consistent advocates and supporters of Grace College for many years. Kelly has given of her time by serving on the Aspire Campaign Cabinet and offering her expertise to Grace students who are interested in attending medical school. In recognition of their financial contributions to the new Dr. Dane A. Miller Science Complex, a biology lab will be named in the Geislers’ honor.
Suzie Light, of Warsaw, was presented the Honorary Alumni Award.
Light has served as the CEO and executive director of Kosciusko County Community Foundation (KCCF) for more than two decades, cultivating a culture of philanthropy that has grown the foundation’s assets from $400,000 to over $57 million.
“You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that is as well-connected and catalytic as Suzie Light,” said Dr. Bill Katip, president of Grace College & Seminary. “We have benefited from Suzie’s influence and talents in more ways than I can list.”
Janet Minnix (BA ’61, MAMS ’17) of Roanoke, Va., received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award.
After graduating from Grace in 1961, Minnix spent the majority of her career serving at Women of Grace USA (WGUSA), a national ministry of the Charis Fellowship (formerly Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches) for 30 years — the last 17 years as president until she retired in 2014.
Additionally, over the past 12 years, Minnix has served on the Grace College & Seminary Board of Trustees. “Serving on the board gave me an opportunity to repay in a small measure what I received from Grace many years ago,” said Minnix. Further, it gave her an opportunity to encourage and support Dr. Christy Hill, Grace professor of spiritual formation and women’s ministry.
Patrick Lee (BA ’08), of Goshen, was named Grace College Young Alumnus of the Year.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2008, Lee began his career with RSM, a national firm specializing in tax, audit and consulting services. In 2011, he joined Kruggel Lawton CPAs as a senior staff accountant.
Lee was named to Kruggel Lawton’s strategic planning team, where he helped determine the firm’s values and business goals. Preserving and perpetuating the firm’s culture is one of the reasons Lee is passionate about his job.
“Kruggel Lawton affords me the ability to live out a work-life balance,” Lee said. “I’m able to invest in my church (First Baptist Church of Goshen) and its youth as a youth leader and serve as a board member on two local nonprofits (Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart and Elkhart Christian Academy) while prioritizing the most important people in my life — my wife, Ruth, and our four children.”
Dan and Renee Keiser of Pataskala, Ohio, were presented the Parent Distinguished Service Award.
Dan and Renee are the proud parents of Lauren Keiser, who was Grace’s first female golf recruit four years ago. “My parents have supported Grace from the day I decided to make this place my second home,” says Lauren.
It was Coach Denny Duncan who introduced the Keisers to Grace, and once they visited, Renee says, “Lauren was sold pretty quickly. The strong atmosphere of faith at Grace and the kind, compassionate staff and faculty were immediately evident to us. Since then it’s been a joy to watch Lauren grow and be successful academically and athletically. We are beyond grateful that God placed her at Grace.”
In the past four years, Dan and Renee haven’t missed a single one of Lauren’s tournaments. “We are crazy Grace Women’s Golf fans,” confesses Renee. “We have loved being a part of this team.” The Keisers have hosted the women’s golf team for numerous tournaments, helped Coach Duncan in recruiting efforts and participated in various golf fundraisers for the team.
Further, the Keisers have served on the Grace College Parent Council since its inception in 2015, volunteering at Family Weekend and at Welcome Weekend events.
“We pray regularly for students, staff and other prayer needs we receive,” says Dan. “It’s been a pleasure to serve Grace in this capacity and to enhance the partnership between Grace College and parents.”
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