Alumni Awards
Olivet Nazarene University is pleased to honor alumni who exhibit the characteristics and ideals of their alma mater.
“O” Awards
Since 1957, the Olivet Alumni Association has recognized outstanding alumni through the presentation of the “O” Awards at the annual fall Homecoming Celebration.
One ministerial and one lay person have been chosen from nominations submitted to the Alumni Board. Qualified individuals represent the ideals of the University and have distinguished themselves in their professional fields.
Ben Kayser ’02/’04 MBA
For 14 years, Ben and his wife, Elizabeth served with The Navigators ministry. In 2024, they began serving with Oaks International to proclaim Christ and multiply disciplemakers for the glory of God and the joy of all nations. They have trained or are in the process of training 16 full-time missionaries.
“The reach of U.S. military personnel is remarkable,” Ben says. “My hope is that, through it all, people see the ways we are trying to honor the Lord, and that they are inspired to go and do the same. Our goal is to reach the nations, and it is incredible to witness that happening.”
Anthony Hoovler ’88 MD
Remaining active in the ONU community, Anthony serves as a board member of Catalyst ONU, an alumni group supporting the natural sciences. He has also been a guest lecturer in the Biological Sciences and Chemistry departments, sharing his real-world experience. He served on the ONU Alumni Board for six years.
In 2021, in collaboration with his “Olivet brothers,” Anthony led the establishment of the HB Brothers ’88 Student Scholarship. “Many of us received foundation scholarships as students, myself included, from families and groups who didn’t even know us,” he says. “But they knew we could excel professionally and grow spiritually at ONU. We just want to pay that forward and support future generations.”
Young Alumni Award
Julie (Pilaczynski) Gulledge ’15, J.D.
At Olivet Nazarene University, she discovered that living and growing with a community of people who love the Lord set a new trajectory for her life. And she began to learn how to bring glory to God through her work.
Julie earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School. She worked as an attorney from 2019 to 2023 and is now a stay-at-home mom.
Julie and her husband, Caleb — who is a 2016 graduate of ONU — live in Atlanta and are the parents of three children, Jaina, Scarlett and Rory.
“I will be forever grateful for my time at ONU. I discovered that the value of my education went way beyond the classroom. Living and growing with a community of people who love the Lord is one of my greatest blessings.”
Dr. Camilo Giraldo ’13
Tennis and engineering brought Camilo Giraldo to Olivet Nazarene University from Medellin, Colombia, South America. The community he discovered here has enriched his life ever since.
Dr. Giraldo earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Kansas. He has been a member of ONU’s engineering faculty and currently serves as an assistant professor of engineering at Messiah University in Pennsylvania.
During his ONU years, Dr. Giraldo met Katelynn Sondlein, and they married while he was in graduate school. They live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and recently welcomed their first child, Joanna.
“Because of coach Andy Gibbs and my teammates, I quickly realized I was in a healthy community where people genuinely cared about me. That was the spark I needed to grow personally, spiritually, academically and as an athlete.”
Where Your Future Begins
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