Outstanding Alumni & Teacher/Mentor Awards
2025 Outstanding Alumni
2025 Outstanding Teachers/Mentors
Who will be next?
Over 28,000 alumni have graduated from Adrian High School since 1857. Many of these graduates have distinguished themselves in their professional careers and/or service to their community and country. These notable graduates are a source of encouragement to our present students and they bring honor to Adrian Public Schools and the staff who taught and nurtured them. Our annual awards ceremony is an inspirational evening beaming with Maple spirit. Please join us each year on the Thursday evening before Homecoming to honor our outstanding alumni and teacher/mentors.
Do you know a deserving Maple alum? Please use the button below to submit a nomination for the 2026 awards.
The Outstanding Teacher & Mentor Award was initiated with a generous grant from Terrence Keeley of the AHS class of 1977, who wanted to provide a way to recognize APS employees who have been exemplary teachers and mentors. Each year three APS staff members are selected as Outstanding Teachers/Mentors and receive a stipend as part of their recognition.
Now preparing for our 19th year, Outstanding Teachers & Mentors are awarded in conjunction with the Adrian High School Alumni Association's Outstanding Alumni Awards given annually the Thursday evening of Homecoming week. A reception and an inspiring awards ceremony is held in honor of these outstanding Maples. Please join us!
Do you know a deserving APS employee? Please use the button below to submit a nomination for the 2026 awards.
Previous Outstanding Award Recipients
Click on the year to go to their page...
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2024Al Wilkerson '67, Lad Strayer '73, Carlos Casanova '01, Nick Conklin, Andrea Miller, Megan Walsh
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2023Fred Smith '72, Cody Waters '04, Tammy Francis (AHS), Kyle Johnson (AHS), Elizabeth Olgren (AHS)
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2022Bruce Brown '61, Stuart MacDonald '82, Heather Yerrick '92, Tracey DeMeritt (Alexander), Tom MacNaughton (AHS), Ashley Rudolph (AHS)
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2021Earl Dunlap '65, Suzanne Hickman '71, Judy Rink Buckenmyer '78 (posthumous), Stephen Guerra (AHS), Jason Skeels (AHS), Lora Wallich (Michener)
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2020Chuck Chase '64, Tommy Heckert '86 (posthumous), Jordan Hoffman '00, Jim Miller (AHS Track & Field), Nate Parker (Springbrook), Tracy Pickle (Springbrook)
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2019Dave Loop '62, The Royal Coachmen (Rick Coscarelli '65, John Betz '66, Bob Cantu '66, Doug Hickman '66 & Jeff Worman '66), Laura Erpelding Cox '82, Maricela Alvarez (Lincoln), Jason Lucius (AHS), Tanya Smith (AHS)
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2018Robert Freligh '39, Doug Nelson '64, Sharon Davis '66, Mark Summers '73, Jere Righter '87, Tom Allor (AHS), Marie Lucius (AHS), Doug Ruesink (Adrian Community High School)
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2017Mary Alice Powell '46, Albert Ruesink '58, Dick Wynn '60, Dane Nelson '67, Maria Leary Richards '82, Matt Jones '96, Nicholas Clift '09, Monica Adams (AHS), Tracy Hribar (AHS), Jeff Petterson (Alexander)
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2016Alden Smith '50, William Mayhew '63, Viola Vasquez '66, James C. Smith '92, Katie Henningfeld Fort '95, Sarah Holtz, Amy Bahlau, Sandi Humphries
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2015Helene Palpant Bleecker '45, Joseph Pullen '55, Steve Hickman '60, Doug Kapnick '61, Terrence Keeley '77, Aimee Herr Schier '90, Jeff Condon, Jim Rubley, Elaine Kaiser
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2014William Cowell '62, Le Roy Hollenbeck '68, Tom MacNaughton '70, Marie Talayco Masterson '73, Elizabeth Hutt Pollard '84, Jill Roberts, Cheryl Cook, Denee Hartung
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2013Jim Lunn '56, Julia Argyros '58, John Inhulsen '93, Matt Lacey '97, Jason Harsh '00, Dawn Jackson, Dan Kesterke, Michaeleen Williams
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2012Del Cochran '61, Sam Rye '62, Jack Dawson '62, Harley Westfall '68, Patrick Farver '73, Julie Koehn '81, Tobin Ost '92, Dawn Huggins, Cammy DiPietro, Ryan Bills
