Faithful service. Lifelong excellence. Christ-centered impact. These qualities will take center stage at Cedarville Universityon Saturday, Oct. 4, when it honors Jim Leightenheimer, Grace Norman, and Craig and Carolyn Williford during a special chapel service.

Norman and the Willifords, since graduating from Cedarville, have used their talents to display love for God and others with integrity and excellence. Leightenheimer served Cedarville for 43 years as a faculty member before retiring at the close of the2024–25 academic year.

Celebrating Lifelong Service and Excellence

Leightenheimerwill receive the Distinguished Service Award for his long-standing impact on students and his contributions to Christian broadcasting. He joined Cedarville’scommunicationdepartmentin 1982.Amonghis many accomplishments, Leightenheimer founded the university’s student radio station, WSRN, which evolved into Resound Radio. Leightenheimer will speak in chapelon Monday, Sept. 29.

Grace Norman, a two-time USA paralympic gold medalist, will receive the Young Alumna of the Year Award. A2020 nursinggraduate,Norman recently won a gold medal in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. She holds three American records, and two world records in the Paralympic T44 category,exemplifying excellence in both athletics and herpersonal life. Norman will speak in chapel on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Craig and Carolyn Willifordwill receive the 2025 Alumni of the Year award for their contributions to global ministry and Christian higher education.Both graduated in 1975, and in a recent interviewon the Cedarville Stories podcast, they expressed a deep appreciation for others in their class.

“We have so many friends [in the class of 1975] who are worthy of this honor,” said Carolyn. “We feel the only way we can accept this award is if we representour class and their commitment to serving God.”

Carolynearned a degree in English for secondary educationandhas taught at Bryan College.She is also the author of nine books, including threeshe wrote with her husband. Dr. Craig Williford,who earned apreseminarydegree, pastored several churches and served as president of Denver Seminary, Trinity International University, Multnomah University and Warner University. He will speak in chapelon Thursday, Oct. 2.

Honoring Faithful Impact

Diana Perkey, senior director of advancement andalumni engagement, led the selection process. She said the awards recognize alumni who are using what they learned at Cedarville to make a lasting impact for Christ.

“It's not just the people on stage who are making a difference for the Lord,” said Perkey. “It’s the moms, the teachers, the nurses — people who are living their everyday lives with Christ as their focus. We hope to encourage others to keep pressing forward in what they’ve been trained to do.”

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduateresidential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.