Henry Olson Alumni Award
Established in 1968 and named in honor of the 13th president who presided over Buena Vista College from 1931-53, this distinguished service award is the highest honor bestowed by the Association on one of its members.
The paradigm for this award is Henry Olson who accepted the presidency of Buena Vista in 1931 as the national economy plunged to the depths of the Great Depression. Many thought that the college was dying. It had 29 cents in the bank and $300,000 in debt with no real enrollment prospects. Many thought Olson was hired to close the college in an orderly way. Instead, he held office for 22 years and led the college by force of will, dedication, self sacrifice and ingenuity from the ashes of its despair to a new path toward prominence and prosperity.
Henry Olson introduced balanced budgets, inspired faculty to heroism and courageously introduced a barter system for tuition and salaries that allowed many young people to attend and many faculty to feed their families. He carried the college through the Depression and on to the building of Swope Hall and Fracker Library.
Eligibility: The recipient must have attended (but need not have graduated from) Buena Vista.
Qualifications: Typically the recipient is an individual who has made contributions of significant dimension to society and/or the university and is either in the peak of his/her career or is retired. The recipient is chosen because of: professional achievement, superlative effort, dedication and self sacrifice in service to others and to Buena Vista.
Restrictions/Exclusions: Typically only one award may be given per year, but the Board need not give an award, if a worthy candidate is not nominated. Posthumous or absentee induction is not ordinary. Current employees of BV, Alumni Association Directors and Trustees are not eligible.
John Fisher Alumni Award
Established in 1970 and named in honor of the 14th President of Buena Vista College from 1954-60. This outstanding service award recognizes consistent and persevering dedication to the qualities of service for which the University stands.
In 1953, as Buena Vista College emerged whole and stronger from the trials of the Great Depression, Dr. John Fisher was appointed as the 14th president. During his administration the college built White Hall and in the summer of 1956 made extensive repairs to Old Main. But in September 1956, shortly after classes had resumed, Old Main burst into flames and burned to the ground. Much of the college burned with it.
At 1:15 a.m., as the fire was brought under control, President Fisher gathered the faculty and staff in a circle on the gym floor to pray. The survival of the Christian Flag on the little Theatre inspired his heroic call to “Classes as usual tomorrow morning.” Fisher’s determination and inspiration carried this college once again from the ashes on to a new life. During the next three years he built Dixon-Eilers and started the building of Schaller Chapel.
Eligibility: The recipient must have attended (but need not have graduated from) Buena Vista.
Qualifications: Typically this award is given in recognition of extraordinary service to Buena Vista and to others, persevering dedication to the qualities of service for which the university stands, and in recognition of exceptional professional accomplishment in the mid-point of his/her career.
Restrictions/Exclusions: Typically only one award may be given per year, but the Board need not give an award, if a worthy candidate is not nominated. Posthumous or absentee induction is not ordinary. Current employees of BV, Alumni Association Directors and Trustees are not eligible.
Keith Briscoe Alumni Award
Established in 1972 and named in 1995 to honor the 16th President who lead the campus from 1974-95 is intended to recognize young alumni for their career potential based on their past achievements.
Keith Briscoe was always committed to the development of young leaders. As Buena Vista President, he initiated the Presidential Fellows program and encouraged support from others to develop the J. Leslie Rollins Fellows program, which continues to provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for at least one Buena Vista student each year. During his 21-year tenure, Dr. Briscoe was the inspiration behind many programs that provided students opportunities to develop leadership skills, notably the Academic & Cultural Events Series (ACES) and international opportunities. It is in recognition of this service and dedication to young people, as well as of outstanding leadership of our alma mater for more than two highly successful decades, that the Alumni Association named the Young Alumnus Award for him upon his retirement in 1995.
Eligibility: The recipient must have attended (but need not have graduated from) Buena Vista.
Qualifications: Typically the award is given in recognition of service to Buena Vista and to others, and in recognition of professional accomplishment and potential, in addition to accomplishments and leadership roles as a student.
Restrictions/Exclusions: Two awards may be given per year, but the Board need not give an award, if a worthy candidate is not nominated. Posthumous or absentee induction is not ordinary. Current employees of BVU, Alumni Association Directors and Trustees are not eligible.
Wendell Halverson Outstanding Friend Award
Established in 1997 and named in honor of the 15th president who presided over Buena Vista College from 1961-1973, this outstanding service award recognizes consistent and persevering dedication to the qualities for which the University stands.
After Dr. Wendell Halverson accepted the helm at Buena Vista, he realized the student body needed more opportunities to interact with diverse cultures. He began recruiting faculty and students from the eastern United States and from overseas. The student body grew from less than 500 to more than 1,000 that included students and faculty from 21 states, eight foreign countries and 26 different religious groups.
President Halverson oversaw the completion of Schaller Memorial Chapel, headed up the construction efforts of Ballou Library, the science building, the Lage Campus Center and Siebens Fieldhouse, and the remodeling of Smith and Swope Halls between 1964 and 1971. Upon retirement, Halverson predicted a future for Buena Vista that would be “focused on providing an experience of wholeness, combining competence and conscience for public service.”
Eligibility: The recipient should be someone who has not attended Buena Vista University.
Qualifications: This award is given in recognition of extraordinary service to Buena Vista and to others as well as persevering dedication to the qualities of service for which the University stands.
Restrictions/Exclusions: Only one award may be given per year, but the Board need not give an award, if a worthy candidate is not nominated. Posthumous or absentee induction is not ordinary. Current employees of BV, Alumni Association Directors and Trustees are not eligible.