On October 17, 2024, Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) honored Sandy and Allen Dalton, Bill Bahney and Dave and Patty Hills as the 2024 recipients of NNU’s prestigious Eugene Emerson Award. These honorees have made extraordinary contributions to NNU and the Boise Valley through their visionary leadership, generosity and commitment to supporting students and the University’s mission and connecting the University and the Boise Valley community.
“Our community partners play a critical role in the success of NNU,” said NNU President Joel Pearsall. “Sandy and Allen Dalton, Bill Bahney and Dave and Patty Hills have consistently demonstrated a commitment to investing in NNU’s mission through their generosity and leadership. They have opened doors for NNU and countless students and enhanced the campus experience in transformative ways.”
Over the past two decades, these honorees have fostered connections between NNU and corporations, foundations and individuals who share the University’s mission and vision. In addition to personally funding endowed scholarships that support students in need, they collectively launched the Nighthawks Scholarship during the COVID-19 pandemic. This scholarship has allowed students facing financial hardship to either enroll or persist in their education at NNU.
Beyond scholarships, these recipients have invested in capital projects that benefit both current and future students. Their contributions helped establish the Hills Conference Room in Conrad Commons, a vital campus space, and they are actively supporting the construction of a new facility that will provide students with much-needed indoor sports and recreation opportunities.
“Through their support, they have impacted hundreds of students’ lives, and their shared desire to advance NNU’s transformational mission has been an incredible source of encouragement to all of us,” President Pearsall added.
Established in 1985, the Eugene Emerson Award acknowledges the spirit of cooperation between NNU and the surrounding community. It honors individuals and organizations who partner with the University to strengthen ties between NNU and the Boise Valley.
