Distinguished Alumni Awards
The Distinguished Alumni Awards honor alumni whose lives and work significantly embody the vision of Westminster: to engage the world and change it for Jesus Christ. Honorees were nominated by the community and chosen by a committee of alumni and administration currently serving on staff at Westminster.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
For exemplary faithfulness of alumni aged 40 and under who are leading and serving with distinction.
Liz (Forkin) Bohannon ‘04 is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and visionary servant-leader whose life reflects courage, compassion, and conviction. In her early 20s, armed with a journalism degree and deep curiosity, Liz bought a one-way ticket to Uganda, where she encountered the barriers preventing many young women from accessing education.
By age 24, that experience led her to found Sseko Designs, creating meaningful employment and educational opportunities for women in East Africa. What began as one bold step grew into a globally recognized, purpose-driven fashion brand, earning Liz recognition as a top 1% venture-backed female entrepreneur. That work expanded further through Sseko's merger with Noonday Collection, forming one of the world's largest fair-trade fashion brands powered by social selling.
Today, as Chief Growth Officer at Noonday, Liz helps lead that vision, bringing together entrepreneurship, innovation, and community to create opportunity for women worldwide. Along the way, Liz became a best-selling author. At age 31, she was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the top public speakers in America, described by John Maxwell as one of the most transformational leaders in the world. She has appeared on Shark Tank and Good Morning America, and has received recognition from Bloomberg, the Cartier Women's Initiative, and more.
Through each sphere of influence—as founder, author, and leader—Liz reflects the heart of Jesus, inspiring others to build lives and work filled with purpose and impact.
Professional Leadership
and Impact Award
For exemplary faithfulness through professional excellence, cultural engagement, and stewardship of vocation.
Jean (Daehn) Evans ‘83 is a servant leader and passionate advocate whose life and career reflect courageous public service, strategic leadership, and a deep commitment to expanding opportunity.
As a two-term member of the Missouri House of Representatives, she was a principled and effective voice for children, families, and the business community. Her leadership earned wide recognition, including the St. Louis Regional Chamber's Catalyst Award, the Missouri Chamber's Champion Award, and the Missouri Community College Association's Distinguished Legislator Award. Jean later led the Missouri Republican Party at the Governor's invitation and recently launched a government relations consulting firm, continuing her work at the intersection of policy and impact.
Beyond elected office, Jean built a career in finance serving individuals and small businesses while investing deeply in her community. She served on the board of Nurses for Newborns, led the Professional Women's Alliance of St. Louis, coached Westminster's boys volleyball team to a 2015 state championship, and made meaningful contributions to several non-profit organizations. Her service earned her the President George W. Bush Award for volunteerism.
In recent years, Jean has championed educational opportunity through Missouri's MO Scholars Program, advocating for over 1,000 families. Having experienced the life-changing impact of Christian education herself, she now works to open those same doors for others, bringing her story full circle. Through every chapter—as student, coach, legislator, and leader—Jean Evans has served with steady faith, leadership, and a deep commitment to others.
Pro Ecclesia Award
For exemplary faithfulness in ministry, missions, and church leadership.
Michael Miller ‘90 is a humble and deeply faithful servant leader whose life’s work through the Micah Project stands as a powerful testimony to the redemptive love of Christ.
Michael first encountered Honduras during a six-month college internship and later returned in 1998, just before Hurricane Mitch devastated the country. In its aftermath, he set aside his original plans to help rebuild a community for 165 displaced families. During that time, God called him to create a home for boys living on the streets.
In January 2000, Michael founded the Micah Project, beginning with a modest home for eight boys in downtown Tegucigalpa. Through steady, sacrificial leadership, the ministry has grown into a Christ-centered community that offers family, discipleship, education, healing, and long-term opportunities for vulnerable young men. Today, the Micah Project includes multiple residential homes and vocational initiatives through Micah Works, where young men receive training in trades such as woodworking, welding, electrical work, and culinary arts, equipping them for lives marked by dignity, stability, and purpose.
For 26 years, Michael has served young men affected by trauma, addiction, abuse, and abandonment, walking with them through relapse, heartbreak, and redemption—what World Magazine called "The Slow Work of God." In 2019, Michael was named World Magazine's Daniel of the Year in recognition of his quiet courage and enduring impact.
Through the Micah Project, God has transformed residents, their families, a growing Honduran staff, and thousands who have joined the mission. Through every life restored, Michael continues to live out the Gospel, offering faith, family, and hope in the name of Jesus Christ.
Honorary Distinguished Alumni Award
Michael Gerson ‘82 graduated from Wheaton College in 1986 with a degree in theology before making a career in public service, and in doing so, brought nobility and virtue all grounded in his Christian faith to the world of politics.
Michael made his mark as a brilliant speechwriter for leaders such as Chuck Colson, Bob Dole, and most memorably, President George W. Bush. Many of President Bush's most enduring lines came from Michael's pen; yet, President Bush says Michael was more than a speechwriter. He was a moral voice in the White House, driven by conviction, compassion, and a belief in the dignity of human life. A remarkable example of that was his push within the administration to implement the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), a program that has brought lifesaving medicine to 26 million people in Africa over the last 23 years.
In his commencement address to the Westminster Class of 2005, Michael said, "Our great calling is not to please others. It is to serve others, and especially, to serve others whose suffering breaks the heart of God." After leaving the Bush Administration, he became a public intellectual, authoring multiple books and writing for the Washington Post and The Atlantic. His many works explored the challenge of integrating our walk with Christ with our duty as citizens in our broken political system, and he resisted the temptation to be a partisan voice, instead seeking goodness, truth, and beauty.
In his last few years, Michael courageously battled Parkinson's disease and cancer, and he also blessed many in a 2019 sermon at the National Cathedral, where he openly talked about how his faith helped him through. Michael passed away in 2022, but his writings will be read by Christian thinkers for generations to come. A final quote from his 2005 commencement address truly captures his heart: "In service, you will find real influence, because example moves the world more than an argument."