On October 16, 2025, Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) honored Duane and Lori Stueckle with the 2025 Eugene Emerson Award, one of the University’s most prestigious recognitions. More than 500 community business leaders from throughout the Boise Valley, along with past Emerson Award recipients, gathered to celebrate the couple’s remarkable generosity, leadership and unwavering commitment to serve others.
Duane and Lori’s story is one marked by grit, perseverance and compassion. A graduate of Northwest Nazarene University, Duane first met Lori while teaching school in Idaho. Together, they built an extraordinary legacy as entrepreneurs whose success has always been coupled with a deep desire to give back to their community.
Rooted in the legacy of Volga German immigrant heritage, Duane’s life has been shaped by family and community—values that have inspired both him and Lori to live with intention, serve boldly and invest in others. With the heart of a servant and the mind of a philanthropist, the Stueckles have united community partners, connected organizations and rallied support around causes that expand opportunity and enrich lives.
A powerful example of their impact can be seen in NNU’s Thomas Family Health & Science Center, a dream realized in part because of Duane’s leadership in sharing that vision and inspiring others to give. Their generosity continues to transform NNU’s campus and will create new opportunities that will benefit students far into the future.
“By investing in the lives of young people, Duane and Lori have opened doors for many NNU students and laid the foundation for generations to come,” said Kelli Lindley, Vice President for External Relations. “Time and again, Duane & Lori have stepped forward with six-figure gifts, providing solutions for lasting change. This includes the creation of an inspirational learning space within the Johnson Sports Center, funding of scholarships, supporting multiple athletic operating budgets and a significant investment in the future of NNU Nursing. Their efforts to build bridges between NNU and other community organizations have played a significant role in helping NNU provide a transformative education to those called to make a difference in the world.”
Established in 1985, the Eugene Emerson Award acknowledges the spirit of cooperation between NNU and the surrounding community. It honors individuals and organizations whose partnership has strengthened the bond between the University and the Boise Valley through visionary leadership, service and generosity.
Through their faithful support, Duane and Lori Stueckle have embodied this spirit of unity—leaving an indelible mark on NNU’s campus, throughout the Boise Valley and in the lives they continue to touch.
